Elephant Cooperation and The Elephant Project Team Up to Raise Funds and Awareness
Orange County, CA - Children and animal lovers can adopt their own elephant to help raise awareness on the elephant crisis during CALIFORNIA DREAMING - ELEPHANT PARADE® beginning on October 8th, 2021 in Dana Point through a limited-run pop-up shop that will be co-sponsored by Elephant Cooperation and The Elephant Project.
The Santa Barbara-based The Elephant Project has been tapped by San Clemente-based Elephant Cooperation to collaborate on this year’s ELEPHANT PARADE® 2021 exhibit. Both The Elephant Project and Elephant Cooperation organizations have been devoted to raising awareness on the plight of African elephants for many years. The pop up shop will be full of cute stuffed baby elephants that have become the must-have comfort toys for parents and kids who care about the planet.
ELEPHANT PARADE® produces the world’s largest art exhibitions of decorated elephant statues to support elephant welfare. Exhibitions have been held in over 20 countries.
“I wanted to create an approachable way for families to learn about wildlife conservation with their children,” says Kristina McKean, founder of The Elephant Project. A relative newcomer to wildlife conservation, Kristina has already made a big impact with an appearance on Good Morning America and a rapidly growing social media following. “Our little elephants, Kiki and Tembo, are definitely striking a chord with parents and kids, and I’m amazed by the incredible reception we’ve received,” adds Kristina. “I even made their expressions a little sad, because I want families to know that things aren’t going so well for elephants right now, whether it’s their exploitation for profit, poaching for their ivory, or the loss of their habitat and migratory pathways. All proceeds from the project go to address these issues.”
“We met Kristina and became immediate fans,” says Scott Struthers, founder of Elephant Cooperation. “She has that intangible that people gravitate toward, and her little elephants are irresistible. People like Kristina, who can reach people on an emotional level, can make a huge difference in wildlife conservation.”
Families and friends can meet Kiki and Tembo, The Elephant Project’s iconic elephant duo, during the ELEPHANT PARADE®.
The pop-up shop at the CALIFORNIA DREAMING - ELEPHANT PARADE® is hosted by Gallery Dana Bay located at 24682 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, CA 92629 on October 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST and October 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kiki and Tempo dolls are available for purchase. Portions of the proceeds will be donated to fund organizations and charities on elephant welfare and conservation projects.
ELEPHANT PARADE® is a social enterprise that runs the world’s largest art exhibitions of artist and celebrity-inspired elephant statues in cities world-wide to raise awareness for elephant conservation. This year, the parade takes place in Dana Point for the second time since 2013. 20 percent of the net profits are donated to elephant welfare and conservation projects.
Visit elephantparade.com, elephantcooperation.com, theelephantproject.com to learn more.
About Elephant Cooperation
Elephant Cooperation takes a “cooperative” approach of researching, vetting and funding organizations with existing programs to collaborate with the shared mission of saving the African elephant. Our goal is to create healthy, balanced, self-generating communities where both animals and people live in harmony. The initiatives include elephant rescue and rehabilitation, community commerce and sustainability, frontline defenders, childhood education and wildlife awareness, and habitat conservation.
About The Elephant Project
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. Later, back in the U.S., she became further outraged at the treatment of elephants in the circus, unable to comprehend how animal abuse could be construed as entertainment in any way. After years spent signing petitions, protesting circuses, and creating social media campaigns to help spread awareness surrounding the mistreatment of elephants, Kristina felt propelled to do more. The welfare of elephants has become her passion and life quest. In creating The Elephant Project, she is now able to make a significant contribution to saving elephants.
About Elephant Parade
Elephant Parade® is a social enterprise and runs the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues. Created by artists and celebrities, each Elephant Parade statue is a unique art piece. The life-size, baby elephant statues are exhibited in international cities and raise awareness for the need of elephant conservation. Limited edition, handcrafted replicas and a select range of products are created from the exhibition elephants. 20% of Elephant Parade net profits are donated to elephant welfare and conservation projects. Elephant Parade® provides fixed annual funding to The Asian Elephant Hospital in Thailand and to Elephant Family an international NGO and US 501(c)3.