Chimp Sponsorship: Make a Difference
By Morgan Kelly
Project Chimps is the newest chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States. Read more to learn about one of the many ways you can support our efforts to provide lifelong care to chimpanzees retired from research.
Make a Difference with Project Chimps
Project Chimps currently houses, feeds, and cares for over 90 chimpanzees retired from research. We want to give these primates as close to normal lives as possible but caring for just one chimp takes a lot of effort, time, and money. As a nonprofit organization, we receive all of our funding from donations, grants, and events. This is why we’re so thankful for any support we receive.
One of the ways you can support our mission and the chimpanzees is through our sponsorship program.
Chimp Sponsorship is Hip!
It costs over $39,000 each year to care for just one chimp! Now multiply that by 95. Now add that number to the electric bill, structural maintenance, general upkeep, necessary technology, permits, staffing and a plethora of other costs and it becomes millions per year to care for all the chimps here at the sanctuary! For $23 per month, or $250 a year, you can sponsor one of the chimps and your donation goes directly toward housing, food, medical care, and enrichment.
There are highlights chimps to sponsor for each month of the calendar. This year, you have the opportunity to sponsor Haylee, Amy, Loretta, Noel, Gracie, Buttercup, Charisse, Bo, Gertrude, Latricia, Samira, Babs, Taz, and Kareem! Now, you might notice that there are 14 names instead of 12. That’s because Buttercup and Charisse are twins so they get their own month, and Kareem is so popular that he stands alone.
The Best Things in Life: Sponsorship Packages
Want proof that your donation makes a difference? Your sponsorship package will include a letter of introduction, your personalized sponsorship certificate, a photo of your sponsored chimp, and email updates (if one of the yearly sponsored chimps). Plus, you’ll get an optional plush chimp like the one Rusty carries around to give as a gift, put in your office or donate to a children’s hospital!
Brandon Bump, our Donor Relations Coordinator, explains that he hopes to improve the sponsorship package benefits over the next year by providing sponsors with even more updates! Since there are only so many volunteers and staff at the sanctuary, it can be tough to get weekly or even monthly updates on every single one of the 95 chimpanzees here. But our sponsorship program allows us to feature a small number of chimps each year in periodic email updates!
Just like humans, each of the chimps have a unique personality. That’s why we want to feature as many as possible! With your support, we can provide more personalized care for the incredible chimps at the sanctuary!
Find Your Birthday Buddy
People often want to sponsor but don’t know where to start in order to make their selection. Sharing a birthday is a good way to narrow your choice! Maybe you’re looking for a birthday buddy. Three of the chimps here that still need sponsorships are Latricia, Haylee, and Gertrude!
For all you January babies and Aquariuses, Gertrude is your gal! Her birthday is on January 22 and she was also one of the first chimps to arrive at the sanctuary (September 8, 2016).
If you’re a Libra or an October baby, you might share a birthday with Haylee! She’s one of the youngest chimps at the sanctuary, having been born on October 14, 2009. She loves the color pink and is just as chaotic as she is kind!
Is your star sign Cancer? Were you born in July? Meet Latricia! Latricia was born on July 1, 2003. Like Gertrude, she’s also one of the first chimps to arrive at the sanctuary. Staff also recognize her as the first chimp to climb a tree here in the Blue Ridge Mountains! This was a huge milestone after spending most of her life prior in a research lab environment.
Did we miss your star sign or birth month? Try our chimp personality quiz to see which of our sponsored chimps you’re most like!
Be the Change: Sponsor Today
We truly could not provide exemplary care to the chimpanzees with without your support. Sponsorship is just one avenue to do that, though. Whether you volunteer, donate, share our posts on social media, attend one of our public events, or simply spread the word, your contribution makes a difference in the lives of these amazing primates.
Consider a chimp sponsorship today to help these primates live the good life!
