It's a tragic story that reverberates through the community.

Fifteen-year-old Larry King, an artistic and confident eighth-grader who had a way with animals and loved to catch crawdads, was shot to death Tuesday morning by a fellow classmate at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard.

But behind the whys, the grieving family and friends, and the stunned students and teachers, lies a heartwarming story of courage and generosity — the decision by the King family to donate Larry's organs. With this brave and unselfish act, the lives of possibly seven people will be saved or, at least, improved.

"If Larry had the story to write, he'd say, If I have to give someone a heart, I want to give it to them on Valentine's Day,' " Greg King, the boy's father, told The Star.

The story of Larry's death and his family's decision serves not only to make all of us more aware of the gift of life organ donations can bring, it also highlights the critical need for organ and tissue donations.

According to OneLegacy, the nation's largest organ procurement group (it serves Ventura, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Santa Barbara counties), every three hours, someone dies in the U.S. because of the shortage of donor organs.

With more than 18,000 Californians — upward of 86,000 nationally — awaiting organ transplants, it's imperative that people become more aware of the need and the ease of becoming an organ donor.

Besides filling out a donor card or having a pink dot placed on one's driver's license, California residents can sign up to become an organ donor though an online registry, http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org or in Spanish at http://www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org.

Thankfully, through education and outreach programs, the ranks of organ donors continue to increase, but challenges, due to language, religious and cultural beliefs, remain in the Hispanic and Asian communities of Southern California.

As advances in modern medicine continue and technology progresses, the need for donors will increase. Currently, an organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, while a tissue donor may save or improve the lives of as many as 50.

Larry King died much too young. But, despite the sadness and pain his death brings, the King family chose to give life. It's a decision to which we should all aspire.