October 2, 2025

Dear Friend of Jungle Friends,

Yesterday was a sad day for me, and for the world. We lost Dr. Jane Goodall, a woman whose wisdom and kindness touched the world and who personally shaped the future of Jungle Friends. For more than three decades, Dr. Jane Goodall has been a profound source of inspiration for me personally. Every time I heard her speak, I was struck by her humility, compassion, and quiet determination.

Jane showed us that leadership is about connection, encouragement, and persistence. She reminded us that even the smallest gestures can change lives.

That spirit is alive in everything we do here at Jungle Friends, from rescuing monkeys to giving them a safe, loving home for life.

This newsletter is dedicated to honoring Jane's legacy. I hope her example will inspire you, as it has inspired me, to take action and carry her light forward.

What Jane Taught Us

Compassion: She showed us that every animal is an individual with thoughts and feelings.

Perseverance: She proved that dedication can spark global change.

Connection: She inspired people of all ages to make a difference, from world leaders to children.

Hope: She always insisted there is reason to hope.

Make a Gift in Honor of Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall’s Life and Legacy

Dr. Jane Goodall was born in 1934 in Bournemouth, England. At just 26, she traveled to Tanzania to live among chimpanzees, where she became the first to document tool use, social bonds, and individuality in their communities. Her groundbreaking methods challenged traditional science, as she gave chimps names instead of numbers and insisted on observing them with empathy.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, dedicated to conservation, education, and research, and later launched Roots & Shoots, a global youth program connecting people, animals, and the environment.

Over her remarkable career, she was named a Dame Commander of the British Empire and honored as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

The Postcard That Changed My Life

In 1992, when the “space chimps” languishing at Alamogordo Primate Center were in the headlines, I wrote to Dr. Jane Goodall asking what I could do to help. To my surprise, she sent back a handwritten postcard she wrote while in flight from DC to London. Jane encouraged me to contact Carole Noon, who was working to save the chimps. Her encouragement inspired me to raise awareness and rally support for the chimps’ plight.

I was able to engage the help of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, investigative journalist George Knapp, and even a former astronaut — voices that carried influence in the fight to protect these forgotten primates. Her postcard showed me what true leadership is all about: connecting and inspiring others to act.

Our paths crossed once again in 2017 after Jane Goodall wrote a scathing letter to the FDA Commissioner causing the immediate halt to the nicotine addiction studies, which she called cruel and unnecessary and a shameful waste of tax dollars. On November 14, 2018 the 26 squirrel monkeys arrived at Jungle Friends to enjoy an "almost wild" life in the Florida sunshine.

What you can do right now:

Make a gift in Jane’s honor & directly support daily care.
Become a Monkey Sponsor
Forward this email and share her story so her light continues to spread.

Together, we can honor Jane’s legacy by doing exactly what she taught us: connect, encourage, and never give up on the animals.

Full Circle

One of my most meaningful memories was in 2003 when Dr. Goodall spoke at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum while Jungle Friends “Monkey Art” was on display.

Seeing our rescued monkeys’ artwork on the walls as Jane shared her wisdom felt like a full-circle moment.

You can be part of that circle too by purchasing a work of art created by our monkey artists.

Purchase Monkey Art

Jane’s postcard still inspires me. It reminds me that big change often starts with something small: a postcard or an email, paired with the courage to act. Your support helps us carry forward Jane’s legacy of compassion.

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