Our Mission

On Endangered Species Day, sisters Lotus and Jazmin Kay launched the Bears for Cares project to educate children about the state of wildlife and our earth, and what they can do to make a difference to create a kinder, more compassionate world.

Bears for Cares was first started as a grant recipient of Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots youth program, with the sisters’ idea of offering organic cotton polar bear toys — “Bears for Cares” — to educate kids on the state of wildlife and endangered species. Shortly thereafter, Bears for Cares co-founder Lotus Kay wrote her first children’s book at age 16, More Beautiful Than Heaven, which featured the polar bear toy, “Beary” as the main character.  

The book series has since grown to include several additional books by Lotus, Billie the Octopus, Jenny the Chimpanzee and A Thanksgiving for the Turkeys, illustrated by Chey Diehl and published by Eifrig Publishing. The books have companion stuffed animals of their main characters.

Her latest book, Friends Lift You Up, highlights the importance of kindness, and reinforces the connection between how we treat the Earth, each other, and all living things.

Bears for Cares is proud to be a project of Jane Goodall's youth education program Roots & Shoots. Bears for Cares donates a portions of its proceeds to the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program to help support other young people passionate about helping our wildlife and planet.