After his sole heir died, Eddie Smith, the owner of Grady-White Boats, looked for a way to pass on his legacy. He was inspired by Patagonia to pledge future profits to charity.
Back in 1968, Eddie Smith Jr. bought a fledgling boat maker based in Greenville, N.C. It was a risky move. The company, Grady-White Boats, was in trouble.
But Mr. Smith turned it around, and now the maker of high-end recreational fishing boats design... [1301 chars]