ABOUT OUR FOUNDATION
Our Values
Conservation
Join us in safeguarding Earth's precious biodiversity. We actively support and fund projects aimed at preserving and protecting endangered species and their habitats.
Stewardship
At the heart of our foundation lies a commitment to responsible ecological practices. Explore how we're driving initiatives to combat climate change, reduce pollution, and promote sustainable living.
Empowerment
We believe in the power of indigenous knowledge and the importance of preserving their cultures. Our foundation partners with indigenous communities, empowering them to protect their lands and traditions.
Honoring the Mother
At the heart of our non-profit organization lies a profound core principle: the unwavering commitment to honor the mother in all her forms. We pay tribute to Mother Earth, the cradle of life that nurtures us with boundless love and sustenance. We honor the enduring wishes of mothers around the world who yearn for a brighter tomorrow for their children, working tirelessly and making sacrifices to secure a better future. Just as a mother cares for her young, we strive to protect and preserve the precious gift of nature, recognizing that our planet is the ultimate mother to us all. In every endeavor we undertake, we carry the spirit of reverence for the nurturing, compassionate, and resilient essence of mothers everywhere, a guiding light in our mission to create a more compassionate and sustainable world.
Elyssa’s Story
For two decades of Elyssa Kellerman’s life, she traveled to five continents photographing wildlife. Her work focused on conservation efforts and worked from the Congo to the Arctic, in Asia, Africa, and North and South America. In the process, she has won the admiration of conservationists around the world and raised funds for numerous conservation projects and foundations.
The conditions under which Elyssa worked are often daunting. She would hoist herself 90 feet into the forest canopy to photograph an endangered eagle. She would hike miles through tundra, jungle, and savannah carrying heavy loads of camera equipment to remote pristine wilderness. She would spend days in camouflaged shelters to photograph nocturnal tapirs, jungle cats, and other endangered species. She would spend weeks in near-total isolation in the wilderness to attempt to obtain the perfect shot. While this would be challenging for some, those who knew her in life knew that this was where she often felt her happiest. Along with her 3 children, her images and the possibility of inspiring people to care about wildlife and conservation are what mattered to her most.
Elyssa’s passion for wildlife was lifelong and she truly became a citizen of the world - the natural world. She originally planned to help protect wildlife through the law, however, on her first trip to Tanzania she realized that photography might have a greater impact in persuading people to care about wildlife’s struggle to survive in world where they are under constant siege. She also spent her free time dedicated to planting habitats for pollinators in magnificent butterfly gardens at her homes in Long Island and Tupper Lake.
Elyssa’s images display a graceful aesthetic. They capture an array of relationships in the animal world: moments of tenderness between mothers and babies, the playfulness of juveniles, and predation in gory detail, but with an eye to its magnificent and timeless choreography. She captures each animal’s beauty and spirit.
Elyssa was born in New York City and buried in Long Island in 2021. Those who she left behind honor her work and legacy for a better future for all beings of creation.
Our Team
The Elyssa Kellerman Foundation is a non-profit organization lovingly operated and managed by Elyssa Kellerman's two devoted sons, Billy and Charlie, alongside her daughter-in-law, Danielle. Together, they are on a heartfelt mission to keep the radiant light that their mother bestowed upon them shining brightly. Their collective dedication is a testament to preserving her art and using it as a force for good in the world. With unwavering commitment, they continue the legacy of Elyssa, channeling her passion into meaningful conservation efforts, just as she dedicated her life to. Through their shared vision and determination, they honor Elyssa's memory by making a positive impact on the causes she held dear, ensuring that her artistic brilliance illuminates the path toward a more sustainable and harmonious future.
Become a Partner
If you would like to partner with us, fill out the form below and someone from our team will get back to you.