As many of you readers know, I am very involved with the Wildlife Conservation Society.  Over the years, my family has become an avid supporter of their elephant conservation programs and their 96elephants.org campaign (click here to read about it).  As many of you plan your end of the year philanthropic donations before 12/31/16, I wanted to let you know that The Dorothy Batten Foundation (who has been very supportive of programs in Mozambique) has issued a matching gift opportunity to benefit elephant conservation.  For every $1 raised on or before 12/31/16, the gift will be matched up to $100,000! Wow!  I wanted to spread the news! If you are interested in donating please visit 96elephants.org or email Dani Raske at the Wildlife Conservation Society and tell her we sent you!
 
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In fact, my husband and I hosted an event at our house in Greenwich, CT last month specifically targeting the elephant conservation programs currently in place through the Wildlife Conservation Society.  We had around 60 supporters made up of friends and members of the community interested in elephant conservation:
[caption id="attachment_9534" align="aligncenter" width="5472"]img_1440 Pictured Left to Right: Tim Tear: Executive Director of the African Region for WCS; Carney Hawks, Melissa Hawks, Joe Walston: Vice President of Field Conservation Programs for WCS, Catherine Durand-Brault: Executive Director Regional Strategic Development, Dani Raske: Development Officer, Global Resources[/caption]
If you are looking at ways to engage your children and have a family philanthropic activity, please check out this page on engaging your children in the campaign! You and your kids can fill out a pledge online.  Your children can engage on social media with your help.  First, you download the elephant template with your children and let your kids decorate it! Second, take an "Elphie" selfie!  Three, you can email your photo to elphie@96elephants.org or post it to Instagram and tag it with the hashtag #elphie.  Join kids and families all over social media furthering the campaign to ban ivory and save the elephants!  It's a great holiday family activity!  Schools and classrooms can join the efforts, too!
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