The Giving List: Saving Animals One Plushy at a Time
“When you have a passion or a calling, that is what you do. You don’t have a choice.” That reality crystallized for Kristina McKean after being exposed to an abused baby elephant on the streets of Thailand. It was a moment that shocked her, and set her on her life’s mission of saving neglected elephants, big cats, and dogs.
“Me with Thai Koon-a rescued elephant at The Elephant Nature Park. I was in awe of how trusting and gentle they were, especially after enduring so much hardship. As Lek always says, ‘Elephants pick their people.’ I truly felt that… a real, soul-deep connection.” – Kristina McKean, Founder
In 2017, McKean started The Elephant Project to combat the exploitation of elephants, with the ultimate goal of rehoming and rehabilitating the highly intelligent, emotional animals. It’s estimated that 20,000 elephants are killed each year due to poaching. Since its inception, the Project has saved hundreds of elephants from this crisis. And now the nonprofit has evolved and expanded in big ways.
Though the elephant is still the flagship animal, McKean realized she had an excellent platform to help even more animals: like lions being poached in Africa, and dogs condemned to death in the Chinese meat markets. Whether it’s saving animals across the world, or putting together adoption events closer to home featuring local shelters, McKean is spearheading action.
A core part of The Elephant Project’s ethos is that one person, one small action, can make a huge difference. Their model is simple but transformational: buy an elephant, save an elephant. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from their “SaveUs” stuffed animal collection goes to organizations globally that aid in fighting the poaching crisis and provide care to orphaned and abused elephants, dogs, and big cats.
But there are also other ways to help. McKean shares, “Your voice is so powerful. Especially for young kids in the social media age. You can talk about it on TikTok and share stories to make a difference.” Education, especially with younger people, is a key component to McKean’s work. It’s not just money, but appealing to hearts and minds. You don’t have to go to the extreme to enact change.
This commitment to small action is why she often prioritizes working with smaller organizations that might not have the funding or recognition that other major nonprofits have. Through years of experience, McKean has vetted and built a coalition of organizations, big and small, that work together to create change.
But time is of the essence. McKean urges: “Elephants are diminishing so quickly that we need to step up for them.” But she also emphasizes that this is not the end. “We have to give people hope that we can make a difference for all these lions, dogs, and elephants.” There is still time. And there is still hope.
The Power of Community & Collaboration in Santa Barbara Podcast, Episode 256
This week on The Power of Community & Collaboration Podcast I speak with Kristina McKean about The Elephant Project in Thailand. We discuss her love for animals and how it inspired her to start this amazing project that has saved thousands of elephants and now cats and dogs as well.
This is a thought provoking conversation that will hopefully deter you from riding elephants when you learn about what those poor animals have to endure at the hands of humans who want to break their spirit. I also suspect that listening to Kristina, who is a great role model for how powerful one person can be, will inspire you to tap into your own leadership energy so that you can find your own way to make a difference and contribute to community.
I am sharing the link to The Elephant Project and Kristina's TED Talk that illuminates the power of one!
https://www.theelephantproject.com/?
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Tedx Talks: Be the Change: It starts with us | Kristina McKean | TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool
Kristina McKean describes her journey to embody philanthropic change, after a firsthand encounter with neglected baby elephants in Thailand. She founded the Elephant Project, a toy company that has successfully helped save hundreds of elephants world-wide. Kristina has recently expanded her SAVEUS brand to include big cats and dogs who are also suffering from abuse and neglect in the U.S. and abroad. Her talk highlights the dangers that elephants face in Thailand and across the globe, as she shares the importance of her sanctuary and the peace and care it takes to preserve such a special animal. The Elephant Project is a female-founded philanthropic toy company that has successfully helped save hundreds of elephants globally by donating proceeds from the hand-designed stuffed animals to aligned organizations that directly benefit the toys' real-world counterparts. Founded by Kristina McKean in 2017 after a lingering firsthand encounter with neglected baby elephants in Thailand, The Elephant Project launched its first cuddly product and accompanying education materials out of Santa Barbara, CA. Kristina donates 100% of the net proceeds from any purchase to trusted organizations that help rescue and care for orphaned, abandoned, and abused elephants. Those organizations include The Elephant Nature Park in Thailand and The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. The elephants were so successful that Kristina has recently expanded her SAVEUS brand to include big cats and dogs who are also suffering from abuse and neglect in the United States and abroad. Since 2017, Kristina has been featured in People.com, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Today Show, Vogue, Real Simple, Reader's Digest, The Los Angeles Times and other publications. To learn more about press and podcasts for The Elephant Project-visit: https://www.theelephantproject.com/press The stuffed animals are an important gift that gives back and teaches children everywhere to be the voice for the voiceless and that one person can make a difference. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Brittany H Levine: As Seen on Good Morning America: She Means Business - International Women's Day 2025
As Seen on Good Morning America: She Means Business - International Women's Day 2025
Happy International Women’s Day! From revolutionizing beauty routines to fashion staples, visionary female founders are transforming the industry while inspiring the next generation. This past weekend on GMA, we celebrated those women by highlighting their companies and all they’ve accomplished.
1) The Elephant Project:
SaveUs Plushies, $39, theelephantproject.com
-After traveling through Thailand and witnessing the mistreatment of elephants, Kristina McKean started The Elephant Project, which significantly contributes to saving them.
-Created adorable plushies that children love
-100% of the net proceeds from animal plushie sales go to organizations that help fight the poaching crisis and care for injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants.
-3 options are available on the site - Kiki, Tembo and Oba
-TEP has even expanded its platform to include lions and rescue dogs as well.
Good Morning America: Celebrate International Women's Day with these businesses to know
What better way to celebrate International Women's Day than by shining a light on the trailblazing entrepreneurs redefining beauty, fashion, children's products and beyond?
These visionary female founders are not only transforming their industries with innovation and purpose but also paving the way for future generations of women in business.
Style expert Brittney Levine joined "Good Morning America" to showcase a curated selection of standout female-founded brands that are making waves and that you'll want to keep on your radar.
Whether you're looking to support women-owned businesses or discover your next favorite brand, these founders and their inspiring stories are worth celebrating today and every day.
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The Elephant Project
After traveling through Thailand and witnessing the mistreatment of elephants, Kristina McKean started The Elephant Project, which significantly contributes to saving them. When you purchase a plushie, 100% of the net proceeds from sales go to organizations that help fight the poaching crisis and provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned and abused elephants.
805 Living: Sleepwear for Elephant Care
99.9 KTYD Interview with Kristina McKean, Founder of the Elephant Project
World Elephant Day 2024
World Elephant Day 2024
Happy World Elephant Day! 🐘🌍
We’re thrilled to partner with @TrunksUpOfficial to support the expansion of @ElephantNaturePark, where the future ROAMS FREE. The newly acquired land will be dedicated to the well-being and protection of rescued elephants from the tourism industry, providing them with refuge and freedom 24/7. It will be the first sanctuary of its kind in the region.
MATCH OPPORTUNITY!
Every dollar you donate will be doubled, up to $50,000! That means your $5 becomes $10, $50 becomes $100, and $500 becomes $1000!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
🎯 Our goal is $750,000. Your donation will fund the construction of a 3-kilometer perimeter, crucial for the elephants’ freedom and safety.
Donate $250 or more and get your name on a placard at the sanctuary!
Be a part of the future of Elephant Nature Park and make a lasting impact on the lives of these majestic elephants.🌟
#WorldElephantDay2024
#TrunksUp
#ElephantNaturePark
The Bets Life Podcast: Wild at Heart with Kristina McKean, Founder of the Elephant Project
Kristina McKean is the founder and owner of The Elephant Project, a women-led and women-run social give-back business. For as long as she can remember, Kristina has felt a deep-rooted kinship with animals, and the welfare of elephants has become Kristina’s passion and life quest.
With a background in design and product development, Kristina was able to build a thoughtful stuffed animal brand to raise awareness and funds to help save and care for orphaned and abused elephants, dogs, and big cats. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the Save Us™ Collection of plushies goes to organizations all over the world that are dedicated to helping and advocating for animals in need. In this episode, we chat about what Kristina experienced on her travels that led her down this path, ethical travel, how we can better support animals abroad and locally, and why it’s important to give back to the causes that speak to us personally.
TW: discussion of animal cruelty
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