Making a Difference

At the same time, the Sanctuary offers a beautiful alternative through their EleCams, live cameras placed in key areas of the habitat where elephants are most often seen. The EleCams allow people to quietly witness the elephants on their own terms, honoring both curiosity and care. That balance of access and respect speaks volumes about the values at the heart of this organization.

For my 50th birthday, I donated my birthday to charity: water, inviting family and friends to celebrate by giving rather than gifting. Together, we raised enough funds to build a clean water well in Ethiopia called Ferrell’s Community, now serving more than 350 people. charity: water shares the exact GPS coordinates for every completed project, and you can see where our well is located here: https://www.charitywater.org/projects/122-130

I was thrilled that charity: water has moved its headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee, just a few miles from me. Their work continues to reach communities around the world.

That lifelong commitment is what drew me to L.A. Works. I volunteered with the organization for many years before being invited to serve on the Board of Directors, where I spent 15 years supporting their mission. L.A. Works doesn’t just mobilize volunteers. It creates connection, purpose, and momentum. Although I no longer live in Los Angeles, I remain a devoted supporter and champion of their work and the communities they serve.

She swims joyfully, explores wide open fields, splashes in her favorite pond, and forms gentle bonds with other elephants. She responds to kind words (don’t we all?). She enjoys every treat. She remembers. She heals. She thrives.

Her full story is beautifully told in Last Chain on Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top by investigative journalist Carol Bradley – a book I proudly keep on my shelf and recommend to everyone.

Supporting Billie feels like honoring my grandmother, my birth year sister, and the quiet resilience that lives in all of us. I am grateful that The Elephant Sanctuary gives her and so many others the life they deserved from the beginning. 

If you would like to join me in adopting Billie and contributing to her care, follow this link. ADOPT BILLIE