Saving the Elephants Posted on 20 Dec 15:49 , 650 comments

 
Tens of thousands of elephants are killed illegally every year for their prized ivory husk. Criminal organizations are at the forefront of this crisis, creating problems for not only the elephants, but also for fighting wars and terrorism. Save the Elephants, a research & conservation organisation, was founded in 1993 with a dedication to fighting the elephant crisis. The charity's mission is to "secure a future for elephants and sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live, to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species."
A following excerpt from the Save the Elephant's website describes the crisis perfectly: "At least 33,000 elephants are killed for their tusks each year in a devastating wave of poaching that is sweeping across Africa. This elephant genocide is driven by demand for ivory as a symbol of wealth or prestige in Asia. Sophisticated criminal elements – often the same groups that smuggle guns, people, and drugs – orchestrate the poaching and smuggling of elephant tusks to foreign markets. The illicit profits of this ivory trade finance terrorism and wars, threatening not only the future of elephants, but also security in Africa and around the world."
Save the Elephants is run on charitable funds, meaning they rely entirely on funds that have been donated by people and other organizations.  As the Chief Executive Officer of Developing Faces, I know first hand how fund raising can be one of the biggest challenges a charity faces in the process of fighting for a cause or continuing to carry out their mission. Because of this, I was ecstatic when I discovered Ivory Ella, a clothing company that donates 10% of their profits to fighting the elephant crisis. You can now get 15% off storewide by using discount code IVESTOLTZ .
Ivory Ella tee shirt hoodie and socks Wearing the Ivory Ella tee shirt hoodie and socks
Ivory Ella has been able to donate over 1.4 million dollars to Save the Elephants and other charities since the company was founded in 2015. Their accessible, thoughtfully designed t-shirts, hoodies, socks, and home goods are enjoyed by many, and for good reason. I first learned about Ivory Ella when I was given an opportunity to become a brand partner with them. I wanted to see and wear their products before I started recommending them, so I anonymously ordered a t-shirt, t-shirt hoodie and socks on their online site.
Ivory Ella tee shirt hoodie The back of the Tee Shirt hoodie I ordered from Ivory Ella
When my Ivory Ella order arrived, I was thrilled to find the pieces were all of superior quality. In order for me to move forward with a brand partnership, I like spending some of my own hard earned money on their products to test the shipping, packaging and product quality. This process has weeded out MANY brands that wanted me to partner with them, and is something I believe is important if I am going to be recommending the brand to other people, including people that read this blog. I'm happy to say I'm now an official Ivory Ella partner, and you can get 15% off storewide by using discount code IVESTOLTZ .
 The Pistachio T-shirt Hoodie is certainly my favorite out of the pieces I ordered. The cute elephant logo on the front is enough to spark a conversation, while the Ivory Ella logo on the back helps spread the message of what you are supporting. I wear it with jeans when I'm running errands, or in my house when I'm cooking dinner. The t-shirt is a medium weight, 100% organic cotton tee shirt with a front breast pocket. The socks were especially comfortable- they feel like little pillows on my feet.
warmest, fuzziest Ivory Ella elephant socks The warmest, fuzziest socks my feet have seen since I was a baby[/caption]
While a direct donation is always the best way to help organizations like Save the Elephants continue their work, sometimes our budgets don't have room for outright financial donations. That's why I think it's such a great idea for brands to build a firm percentage of profits into their business plans. When the brand starts making money, funds are automatically allocated to the charity. This allows customers to make smart purchases and give back while purchasing necessary clothing and gifts for friends.
If you purchase from Ivory Ella, let me know what you think of the brand. I'd love to see photos and see the mission continue thriving!
XOXO,
Kate Stoltz