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.
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
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 Today Show: Holiday gift ideas that support women-owned small businesses
From jewelry to olive oils to coffee and more, Lauren Iannotti, editor of Real Simple, stops by TODAY to share great holiday gift ideas that support women-owned small businesses.
2023 REAL SIMPLE Gift Guide
Kelly Clarkson Show: California Mom Creates Elephant Plushie To Help Rescue Real-Life Elephants
The Elephant Project is a charitable organization selling adorable stuffed animals in support of organizations that help save and care for orphaned and abused elephants around the world. Founder Kristina dials-in and shares how seeing a baby elephant being abused in the streets of Thailand 20 years ago inspired her to create the organization, and teach the next generation about the importance of respecting wildlife. Pilot Pen awards Kristina $1,000 to help her continue her incredible work. Be unstoppable with the go-to pens of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the smooth G2 and erasable FriXion by Pilot. https://powertothepen.com/ #KellyClarksonShow
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LA Times: 18 gifts that give back in big ways
We’ve all been there, politely thanking someone for a gift we neither need nor want as we try not to think about the amount of money wasted on something we’ll never use.
That’s the tricky part about gift giving. If you want to maintain any sort of surprise, you just have to wing it sometimes and hope your instincts are right.
We can’t provide a magic guide to everyone’s perfect gift, but we can steer you to gifts that give twice by supporting causes that might be important to your recipient, such as human rights, eradicating hunger or saving the natural world. That way, even if your gift is a disappointment, your recipient will know that at least a portion of the money you spent is supporting something that’s improving our world.
And that might be one of the best gifts of all.
Not since Babar has an elephant been so endearingly and elegantly portrayed as this pint-sized version from the Elephant Project complete with (removable!) green velvet overalls. This soft stuffie is beautifully made, with a generous trunk and tufted tail. And it’s just the right size for little hands. Tembo and his friend Kiki (who prefers dresses) are just two of four cuddly animals offered by this Santa Barbara-based company, which sends 100% of its net proceeds to organizations around the world devoted to saving elephants from poachers and providing care for orphaned young. (P.S. If your gift recipient prefers big cats or dogs, check out Oba the lion and LuLu the dog. They have their own related support organizations.)
From $39 at the Elephant Project