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: Protect the critically endangered African penguins from extinction. 🐧💙
Meet our passionate African penguin lover volunteer board members and advisors.
Board and Advisors
President
Kruger grew up near Cape Town, South Africa. He manages our website backend, custom CRM, metrics, data analysis, donor stewardship, and videography. Kruger is an Al Gore-trained Climate Reality Leader, Texas Master Naturalist, former science teacher, karate blackbelt, and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. Kruger has been active in CERT, enjoys woodworking and sailing, and bakes incredible sourdough bread. He is enjoying his third act as a data scientist with a Master of Science in Data Analytics.
Shannon is a native Texan. She manages social media, writing, accounting, our website front end, partnerships, donor stewardship, and photography. Shannon is an Al Gore-trained Climate Reality Leader, Texas Master Naturalist, former accountant, and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. Shannon led an incredible team and wrote the 130+ page application that earned The Wimberley Valley the International Dark Sky Community designation. Meeting the late Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) was a life highlight. She holds a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology.
Shelby is a brand strategist responsible for board records, advising on branding, marketing, and social media, and is part of our internal accounting controls. She’s an avid reader and attends the Austin City Limits Music Festival annually. Shelby holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising, cum laude.
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 currently in the Western Cape at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai, South Africa.
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.