Hi! We are Molly and Carly and we are now 16 and 14. Four years ago our grandfather died very suddenly from cancer of the throat. He was very young. We wanted to do something to remember him and to make sure that others would not get sick and die like he did.
Our other grandparents have bee hives and we help them harvest the honey every year. One day, we figured out that we could actually sell the honey and donate all the money to the help beat cancer. We also came up with the name Hives for Lives. We sold jars and rounds of honey for the first time in 2004.
We went to our school, our friends, our parents' work, our church , and told our story about our grandfather and our project to help. At the end of that first year, we were asked to give our first check for over $2,000 at the annual American Cancer Society ball.
The next year, with lots more honey, we donated another $10,000. The next, another $9,000! Last year over $22,000. In total we have now donated over $ 45,000 in four years. This money has gone to the American Cancer Society, the Penn Abramson Cancer Center, the Fox Chase Center and the Susan G Koman for a Cure foundation. We now have over twenty hives of our own hives and many more partner hives. As of March of 2006 we even have official 501c3 status and are expanding our sales nationally. We are now in nine regions in Whole Foods Markets throughout the country and this year we are on track to have raised more about $150,000 (and counting) towards a cure. We are recruiting other kids to sell and raise bees along with us as HELPER BEES. We have started a club at our school called the Young Business Women: Hives for Lives Club. We have already sold in more than 30 states and England and Puerto Rico! So -- if you love honey, let us know if you want to help!
Take Care!
Good Health!
Molly and Carly
molandcar@hivesforlives.com
Click here for pictures from this year's harvest and bottling!
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