CONNECTION
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by Katie Lucas
Pandas have always been my favorite animals; they're just so cute and lazy! Unfortunately, the giant panda has been on the endangered or vulnerable list for over 30 years, largely due to loss of habitat. This month, we are putting a special spotlight on National Panda Day, March 16, with a fun event for young readers and by providing a few resources for those of you who feel so inclined to send a donation and help charitable organizations whos mission it is to protect wildlife across the globe.
Please, Save the Pandas Being that pandas are my favorite animal, I was really excited to see a children's book about a grumpy little panda, trying to find a friend who knows how to say "please." In fact, I was so excited about this book, my husband and I bought it years before we welcomed our son into the world (and made sure it was one of the first books we read with him!). I am so excited to announce that on March 16, we will be offering a copy of one of my favorite children's books, Please, Mr. Panda, to young Toscana readers, for the low-low price of the word "please!" Supplies are limited for this event, so be sure to register early to reserve a copy for your little one (great for kids and grandkids!). This will be limited to one book per household, but be sure to bring all your "munchkins" along for pickup on the 16th for a special surprise!
Donation Resources There are two major players in the panda-conservation game, and those are the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Pandas International (PI). Founded in 1961, WWF has aided in over 10,000 projects across 157 countries and has been an invaluable source in raising awareness and funds for multiple endangered or otherwise at-risk species. There are multiple ways you can donate to WWF via their website, including purchasing apparel or other gifts, symbolically adopting a panda (which I personally do on an annual basis!), creating a Look at this precious face! "build a bucket" with plushies of your favorite at-risk animals, or just making a straight donation to the cause. All of these are great options for getting muchneeded funds to conservationists at WWF. A much more recent entrant into the conservation game, Pandas International has been around for just over 20 years and is dedicated solely to serving the giant panda. PI has clear goals in protecting the species, including veterinary training, disease prevention, reproductive research and more. You can also donate to PI through multiple avenues including the purchase of goods, the symbolic adoption of a panda, or a straightforward donation. PAGE 11
