Tomorrow is World Gorilla Day, so it is the perfect time
to talk about gorillas.
There were 24 new gorillas born last year,
which is a really, really big deal because there are only
a thousand mountain lions in existence,
mountain gorillas in existence.
I know what I'm talking about.
And they're all adorable, 24 new babies born this year.
And this is an issue obviously that's very personal to me
since I'm passionate about protecting endangered wildlife,
and the Ellen Fund campus in Rwanda is opening really soon.
Here's an update on the progress of that.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Portia gave me an incredible gift
and created the Ellen Fund.
We are building a campus in Rwanda
to help save the mountain gorillas.
I can't-- there's no words.
We're next to these incredible creatures,
and they were so gentle and tolerant and respectful of us.
I went to Rwanda to help continue the work of one
of my idols, Dian Fossey.
Hi.
So we recreate her cabin.
This is still the original desk.
I'm going to do you proud.
[RINGTONE]
[LAUGHTER]
We're standing on where my campus is going to be built,
beautiful site.
Let's start building.
[LAUGHTER]
I want to thank everyone who has been supporting the Ellen Fund.
Every little bit helps.
This is Mrs. Chicos, third grade class.
They sent me a $100.
What is this?
What you bring me?
It's for your gorillas.
Aww.
It is?
I have been wearing this jacket since the '90s,
and it is [INAUDIBLE].
Oh yeah.
I'm going to have all of them sign this jacket.
I'm going to auction it off.
Alex and Ani, they'd also like to donate a check for $250,000.
Thank you so much.
It's amazing and beyond my wildest imagination
to have you all here.
There are only 1,000 mountain gorillas on Earth,
and tonight, we're here to make it possible to see this species
rebound.
Guess what we raised tonight?
Over $5 million.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Over $5 million.
I would like to make a donation for $25,000.
There's a $2000 cashier's check.
A $5,000 check.
$2000, $20,000, a $100,000, $250,000 donation.
We'd like to give you $4 million.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
We did it!
You're excited.
I gave this gift to Ellen because we both love
and wanted to protect gorillas.
After coming here, however, we fell in love
with the country and its people.
So this campus isn't for me or for Ellen.
It's for the people of Rwanda.
It is my hope that the campus will serve as a catalyst
to encourage us to dream bigger, to know that we too can make
an impact and that all of us can become trailblazers just
like Ellen and Diane.
We're so excited for all of you to see it.
We-- really, if you get a chance to go to Rwanda,
there is-- it's a life changing experience
to see those gorillas so close up.
Try to get there in the campus that's opening this summer.
It's going to be amazing.
We have some new items in the Ellen Shop,
and all the money goes to help save gorillas
in honor of World Gorilla Day and support the Ellen Fund.
This is a new gorilla t-shirt.
To be clear, it's for people, not gorillas, to put on them.
And we have some activewear.
This is very soft and cozy to wear
when you're active or inactive.
You can be whatever you want in these.
Soft and cozy, though.
And then there's like tiny little gorillas on the back.
We have these water bottles, and there
are seven species that are in my endangered documentary
that I did for discovery.
This one, they have giraffes which
is Portia's favorite animal, and you
can find all of these products in the Ellen Shop
and to learn more about the Ellen Fund
and get updates on our campus.
You could follow us online or on Ellen Fund Instagram.
We'll be back.