Kristina McKean has felt a deeply rooted kinship with animals for as long as she can remember. When she traveled through Thailand and witnessed baby elephants on the streets of Bangkok being exploited for money, she was devastated. She has successfully drafted petitions, protested circuses, and created social media campaigns to help amplify and spread awareness of these issues. Kristina joins the podcast to discuss tips for building public support and awareness for your nonprofit.
The Animal Rescue Podcast Ep. 56: The Elephant Project with Kristina McKean
My guest this week is Kristina McKean of The Elephant Project. Her work started after traveling through Thailand and seeing elephants exploited for money. We discuss what her work looked like in the beginning, how it has progressed, and how you can get started supporting causes near to you. You can learn more about The Elephant Project by checking them out online at www.theelephantproject.com or on Instagram @theelephantprojectofficial
Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram.
ASL only:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCptgszJ03WBmP_RJZOx6o6w
Voice only:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-animal-rescue-podcast-what-you-always-wanted-to/id1548213393
https://open.spotify.com/show/04F2HQcGPGdXWxktsEDI90?si=42NLPNR6RLqcLf208Fi3hw&dl_branch=1
The Dave Pamah Show: The Elephant Project with Kristina McKean
In this episode I talk to Kristina McKean who has made a big impact as the founder of The Elephant Project and is on a mission to educate children & families about animal cruelty through her line of cuddly plush stuffed animals. Kristina has been profiled by a multitude of local, national, and international media outlets, including The Today Show, Vogue, People, Santa Barbara Magazine, The Montecito Journal and The Santa Barbara Sentinel. Her partner non-profit organizations include The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and Elephant Nature Park.
LA WEEKLY: The Elephant Project Travels From SoCal to Thailand to Save the Elephants
Elephants are one of the most beloved and majestic animals in the world. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most threatened and exploited. In many Asian countries, like Thailand, ‘begging elephants’ are a common sight, despite the practice being illegal. Most of these elephants are poached from the wild as babies and sold into captivity. They are beaten and tortured for months until they are so terrified of humans that they would do anything, including being used as props to avoid further abuse. To help protect and conserve these majestic creatures, The Elephant Project, led by the company’s founder Kristina McKean, traveled from Southern California to Thailand.
Kristina McKean and her daughter kick-started their year with a mission-driven visit to the source of her company’s initial inspiration in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Kristina built The Elephant Project after her first trip to Thailand about 23 years ago. She saw a baby elephant ‘begging’ on the streets, and the looks of despair and hopelessness from the animal broke her heart. When she came back home, the only thing she could think of was what she could do differently to end this practice.
The Elephant Project is a philanthropic toy company that supports different elephant foundations in Asia and Africa. They donate 100% of their net sales from Kiki and Tembo (two of their stuffed elephants) to rescue efforts, orphanages, and elephant sanctuaries like The Elephant National Park in Thailand.
Kristina has been working closely with The Elephant National Park to end ‘begging elephants’ in the country and save baby elephants. During her month-long visit to Thailand, she connected with some of the conservation leaders driving these initiatives forward.
Kristina and her daughter were welcomed by celebrated animal rights activists and the founder of The Elephant National Park, Lek Chailert, along with her team of conservation and elephant experts. Kristina met the beloved Baby Chaba, a rescued baby elephant and the real-world living counterpart to The Elephant Project’s newest SaveUs™ collection mini plushie. The plushie is being sold together with a booklet, and 100% of the proceeds from both will go directly to the Elephant Nature Park so they can help rescue other elephants.
Kristina also visited other elephants outside the sanctuary. On the last day of the trip, Kristina and her daughter stopped by the famous ‘riding camp’ where elephants are chained and treated horribly with bullhooks, an experience Kristina describes as heart-wrenching.
“It is so unfortunate that many elephants have to suffer and even die due to the extreme exploitations. These animals are forced out of their habitats by us humans and then subjected to torture just because we want to use them as props for our entertainment,” Kristina says.
As she returns to the US, Kristina McKean hopes to create more awareness of elephant tourism/begging and save more baby elephants. Kristina also advocates for 100% human practice in shelters and orphanages. The Elephant Project only works with organizations that follow 100% humane practices in rescue and care.
26 Inspiring Nonprofit Leaders Who Will Impact the World in 2023
Nonprofit leaders within the nonprofit sector play a huge role in the economy, providing essential services that boost economic activity and generate economic growth.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, nonprofits contributed $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy!
In 2022, the nonprofit sector is continuing to adapt to the ever-changing global environment. According to the latest statistics released by Blackbaud, total charitable giving in the United States increased 5.6% in the past 12 months ending in September 2022 compared to the previous 12 months ending September 2021.
Leadership in the nonprofit sector is key when scaling essential services and budgeting correctly to ensure the best ROI(Return on Investment Impact) as possible.
Nonprofit leaders must possess a wide range of skills that allow them to effectively manage their organizations.
The ability to be flexible and adaptable, strong communication skills, and the capacity to see a task through to completion are essential qualities in any leader.
Creativity and innovation are also necessary for nonprofit leaders as they must come up with creative solutions to complex issues.
Most of the year, the Causeartist focus is showcasing startups and for-profit businesses solving social issues, but each year I use this time to highlight and showcase nonprofit leaders dedicating their lives – everyday to their missions and respective causes.
Private business and nonprofits will always have a huge responsibility to work together on partnerships, ideas, and strategies to solve the issues of our world.
These nonprofit leaders profiled below exhibit the essential attributes of an impactful nonprofit leader, and their organizations will undoubtedly impact the world in 2023.
If you are interested in seeing the nonprofit leaders from the previous years, check them out here 2019 // 2020 // 2021 // 2022.
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Kristina McKean // The Elephant Project
Kristina McKean has had an unbreakable connection with animals since she was a child. During her travels in Thailand, the sight of young elephants cruelly abused for monetary gain left Kristina brokenhearted and determined to take action against animal exploitation.
After years of petitions, demonstrations, and digital awareness campaigns fighting against elephant mistreatment in circuses here in the U.S., she wanted more than ever before to make a lasting difference – so The Elephant Project was born!
Now able to commit her life’s purpose towards saving these majestic creatures from harm around the globe.
100% of net proceeds from your purchase of Kiki and Tembo stuffed animals go to organizations that help aid in fighting the poaching crisis and also provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants.
The Spruce: The 46 Best Gifts that Give Back of 2023
The holidays are the perfect time to give back, and it's easier than ever to do so with these gifts from your favorite brands that donate a portion to worthy causes.
We researched the best gift-worthy products from notable brands that give back to the community, considering the price, cause, and portion donated. Our favorites include a pink clay mask from Klei Beauty, a personalized photo mug from Shutterfly, and cozy slippersfrom Bombas.
Here, the best gifts that give back.
CH13 NEWS: Saving Elephants Around the World & How You Can Help
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, elephants around the world are still being poached in large numbers. Tens of thousands of elephants are being killed every year for their ivory tusks.
The Elephant Project, is a female-founded philanthropic toy company that has helped save hundreds of elephants worldwide by donating 100% of its net proceeds to global elephant rescue efforts. We spoke with the company’s founder, Kristina McKean, who explains how the project has helped rescue, rehabilitate and protection hundreds of elephants globally, while fostering numerous orphaned elephants and delighting families the world over.
INHABITAT: The Elephant Project sets out to save abused elephants
This all-female organization began when founder Kristina McKean saw the devastating treatment of elephants in Thailand, and again back in the United States with circus animals. Determined to find a way to support elephant causes, Kristina used her product development background to design two adorable, huggable, elephant dolls she named Kiki and Tembo (and now Baby Chaba).
Additionally, children and many adults are drawn to stuffed animals. These elephants come with fun and age-appropriate educational materials to spread the word about the dangerous world elephants live in.
Meanwhile, the company’s mission is clear and supported by its donations to organizations that care for elephants in need. In fact, 100% of the net proceeds from each sale of Kiki and Tembo goes to fund supplies and aid for orphaned, abused and injured elephants through The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya and The Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. The Elephant Project also contributes to efforts to end elephant poaching.
KOIN: ‘Gifts that give back’: Non-profit fights for global elephant rescue
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Despite a ban on international trade in ivory, elephants around the world are still being poached in large numbers.
However, organizations like The Elephant Project, has helped aid in the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of hundreds of elephants globally.
“I started The Elephant Project just to create awareness and funds for elephants globally because I felt like if we don’t do something now, they will go extinct in the very near future,” said Kristina McKean, The Elephant Project Founder. “Thousands of elephants are being held or captured every year and it’s become a huge problem and I wanted them to be around for generations to come.”
With a background in product development design, McKean said she wanted to create a product to help bring awareness and funds to elephant rescue efforts and “teach children everywhere that they can help and make a difference and be the voice for the voiceless.”
To aid this effort, The Elephant Project sells stuffed animal elephants with 100% of the net proceeds going to organizations “fighting the poaching crisis,” according to the project website.
“The Elephant Project, these are gifts that give back…this holiday season it’s really important to give a gift that gives back and it’s a really small way of making a change,” McKean said.
To help save elephants, McKean also encourages everyone to not ride elephants, take selfies with endangered animals or visit roadside zoos or circuses.
McKean also encourages children of all ages to “use your voice when you see something that doesn’t look right or something on social media to speak up because that actually can be very, very powerful.”
KMOV4: Christmas gifts for everyone on your holiday list
Our Style Expert Alison Deyette joined us with several holiday gift suggestions. For more info on the gifts and style expert Alison Deyette, visit her website or follow @alisondeyette. Baby Chaba elephant plushie, TheElephantProject.com Crafted non-alcoholic alternatives, drinkfreespirits.com Various Games from Nuttheads.com SLF LED Smart Tablet Mirror from JCP.com