Hives for Lives: Bee the Cure We Seek

why it's important:

Our efforts on Hives for Lives are broad. My sister and I are the founders and run the company, but we now have a lot of help from our friends and businesses that we work with as well. Unlike most charitable efforts, Hives for Lives is actually a profitable business, but all of our profits go to fight cancer.

We help raise the bees, build the hives, hand harvest, spin, strain, bottle, cap,label, and sell our local honey. We make the lip balm and candles we sell. We also partner with local beekeepers and suppliers in other regions that we sell in to deliver our LOCAL HONEY for LOCAL MONEY to Whole Foods stores nationwide. We email customers and those interested in helping. We give business presentations and go to business meetings; we speak at schools and hospitals. We handle website sales (www.hivesforlives.com and www.hivesforlives.org ) and update our site. We spread the word, finding ways to advertise and publicize Hives for Lives. We sell honey at events around our community. We make calls to hospital gift shops, food stores, kitchen shops and other retail stores to sell our products. I now also run the Hives for Lives Young Business Leaders club I started at my school.

All of our profits go to beat cancer in a unique way. We have identified charitable partners in each of the regions that our honey is sold in to benefit from honey sales in their area. This year we were able to give away over $70,000 additional dollars to half a dozen world renowned hospitals and research centers in the US. This bring our total donations to over $120,000.

the plan of action:

All of our profits from our sales at the end of each year go to beat cancer. We have identified charitable partners in each of the regions that our honey is sold in to benefit from honey sales in their area. This year we were able to give away over $70,000 additional dollars to half a dozen world-renowned hospitals and research centers in the US. This brings our total donations over five years to over $120,000. All of our money goes to fund basic research. We have deliberately funded "out of the box" research at our nation's best cancer research organizations and hospitals because we want to eradicate the disease permanently. This kind of money goes to the earliest stages of research; to new ideas that may not be funded yet because they are so new or innovative.

We have sold over 20,000 jars of honey and countless lipbalms and candles in over 30 states and 2 countries. We have also spoken about our company and the power of business and kids in Colorado, Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC. We have spoken to groups of kids and adults alike; to schools, hospitals, tradeshows, business conventions, environmental conferences, etc.

how you can get involved:

We of course can always use Helper Bees anywhere in the US. Kids can be involved with Hives for Lives in any way they would like. Anything from something as simple as helping sell honey, to participating in our annual jarring.

If you like to talk, we need you in sales. Like math? We need help with finances and bills. Like nature and the outdoors? There is always work with the bees. Like to work with your hands? We need help building hives. Like art? Then marketing may be for you. There is always work to be done.

But as importantly, we feel like you should find your own passion and a cause important to you and apply yourself to it. Because when you are passionate about something, you will make it work and it will make a difference.

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