My mom, Betty, believed deeply in kindness.

She cared about people. She cared about animals. She cared about stories. She had a way of seeing value in things others might overlook and a genuine desire to leave the world a little better than she found it.

Elephants were one of the many things she loved, which is why supporting their care feels like a fitting way to honor her memory.

The bench we placed in her memory reads:

"She cared deeply, for every creature, for every story, with a heart as big as the elephants she loved."

If you'd like to contribute, thank you.

More than anything, I hope we continue the lesson she lived every day:

Be kind. Care deeply. And leave people, animals, and the world a little better than you found them.

— Rob D'Hondt