Hives for Lives

Approach

ELISE began working with Hives For Lives—a social enterprise that sells honey products to raise money for cancer research—in summer 2007. The co-founders, Molly and Carly Houlahan of Devon, Pa., were preparing to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush at a reception in Philadelphia. With the understanding that The White House had set its press efforts on live television interviews the day of the event, ELISE focused its media outreach on securing advance coverage by radio and print outlets.

Results

Hives for Lives was featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer—a story that was also picked up by four local newspapers—and an interview aired on WHYY Morning Edition the day that President Bush visited Philadelphia. And, as a result of the positive press coverage, Hives for Lives was discovered by Whole Foods Market®. The world’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods recently committed to selling Hives for Lives’ honey in 35 of its mid-Atlantic stores.

ELISE is currently pitching the young girls’ entrepreneurial success story to national press and has already succeeded in obtaining regional television interviews and a story on Treehugger.com