In Central Texas, Primarily Primates, Inc. operates a sanctuary that cares for more than 300 primates who have been rescued from laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the exotic pet trade. During the recent SXSW event, representatives from UPLIFT Desk met members of the Primarily Primates team and learned about their work and challenges.
The staff at Primarily Primates emphasized the demanding nature of running a sanctuary, noting it requires “compassionate care, physical rehabilitation, and enrichment to reignite wild behaviors.” They also shared that resources are mostly allocated toward animal care rather than office needs.
Recognizing this need, UPLIFT Desk decided to support the sanctuary through its donation program by providing new chairs and desks for the organization’s staff. The company stated: “We love to support local, mission-driven organizations run by people who pour their hearts into making a difference and we wanted to do what we could for their staff.”
The collaboration also introduced UPLIFT Desk to Baxter, a chimpanzee at the sanctuary known for creating paintings sold to raise funds for his care. Baxter’s background includes being born in a research lab, performing on television, and eventually being rescued by Primarily Primates. The company purchased some of his artwork as part of their support.
Primarily Primates is currently constructing a new enclosure to accommodate four new chimpanzee residents who arrived earlier this year. This expansion is expected to provide additional space for social introductions among chimps and serve as backup housing during maintenance on other enclosures.
UPLIFT Desk highlighted the value of such partnerships: “Sharing stories like these reminds us how powerful business connections can be not only to foster growth but also to give back when there is opportunity.”
