A quick origin story:
The seed for KruShan Foundation was planted during a 2010 trip to South Africa. Kruger, who grew up there, took Shannon to see the African penguins. She was immediately enchanted—they had her “at hello” to borrow from Jerry Maguire. Kruger, however, was concerned by the noticeable decline in their numbers. It turns out that 2010 was the year African penguins were declared an endangered species.
Having visited the African penguins many times since that trip, our hearts compelled us to act to protect these now critically endangered birds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, or as we call it, the Great Toilet Paper Crisis, we planned and made connections with the first few of a growing list of partners. We proudly launched KruShan Foundation in January 2022.
Our mission: Save the African penguins from extinction. 🐧💙
Meet our passionate African penguin lover volunteer board members and advisors.
Board and Advisors
Kruger grew up near Cape Town, South Africa. Kruger is a Climate Reality Leader, Texas Master Naturalist, former science teacher, and now a data scientist. Kruger handles our website backend, including our custom CRM, metrics, data analysis, donor relations, and videography. Kruger holds a Master of Science in Data Analytics.
Shannon is a native Texan, Climate Reality Leader, Texas Master Naturalist, former accountant, and now a learning experience design consultant and writer. Shannon handles social media, writing, accounting, our website front end, and photography. Shannon holds a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology.
Shelby is a strategist at a top advertising company in Austin, Texas. She handles board records, advises on marketing and social media, and is part of our accounting internal controls. Shelby holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising, cum laude.
Pinkey is a fundraising, conservation, and administrative manager at Dyer Island Conservation Trust as well as an environmental educator, and founder of the Deep Blue Ambassadors program for school children in Gansbaai, South Africa.
Xolani is known as South Africa’s penguin whisperer. He has worked with African penguins in South Africa for over 16 years, first in the Eastern Cape and more recently in the Western Cape at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary,
Several years ago, we saw Waddlesworth, or Wads as we call him, at Stoney Point African penguin colony in Betty’s Bay, South Africa. He is why we do what we do. He doesn’t let that go to his head, but he can be snarky, which we like. He opines on our social media channels from time to time.