Welcome to the KJS Legacy Project!

Seven and a half years ago, Terry Sutherland and I lost our beloved son Kevin to a senseless act of violence. He was just 24 years old - in the prime of his life and just starting his political career in our nation’s capital. In the wake of his death, we got to meet many of Kevin’s friends, professors, and colleagues in Washington, D.C. and we discovered that while away at American University, our son had blossomed into a trusted and respected friend, mentor, and leader.

Many of his fellow AU alums told us how he had befriended them in school - encouraging them to take on new challenges, helping them through tough times, and supporting them on their journey toward successful careers after college. His professors expressed their sadness over the loss of such a promising young man who appeared destined to make a difference in a world desperately in need of his talents. His coworkers described someone who was a go-to individual who believed in public service - someone constantly seeking that more perfect Union our Founding Fathers spoke about in our Constitution. The stories we hear from all of Kevin’s associates made us exceedingly proud.

Soon after Kevin’s death, a Scholarship Fund and an Internship Fund were established in his memory at American University to support future students seeking careers in public service. With the help of many of Kevin’s family members, friends, and colleagues, those funds were endowed to provide perpetual support on into the future. To date, four scholarships have been awarded along with two internships on Capitol Hill.

Over the last seven years, we have seen how impactful this financial support has been for students seeking to make a difference, especially those who might not always have the financial means to complete their four-year degree or to gain vital experience on Capitol Hill where internships are often unpaid or low-paid positions. We have also seen the lasting effect of Kevin’s story on students who seek to follow his example. And so Terry and I and many of Kevin’s friends and co-workers decided we could do more to help others to fallow in Kevin’s footsteps. We are proud to announce the establishment of the KJS Legacy Project, Inc. to expand the support we are able to provide to future leaders.

If you knew Kevin or have heard his story or you simply value the important part public service plays in our democracy, we hope you will join us in our effort to encourage young people to get involved in public service for the right reasons. Through your support, we will expand the Kevin Joseph Sutherland Memorial Scholarship and the Kevin J. Sutherland Internship at AU. We will create a scholarship at Kevin’s high school for students seeking a college degree in public affairs. And we will provide recognition to individuals who are already displaying a dedication to serving others and being a part of something bigger than themselves. Learn more about our foundation by clicking here and take action by clicking here. Together, we can make this a better world for all of us.