Austin, TX—The Whole Kids Foundation has launched theGive Bees a Chance Campaign,which hopes to raise $100,000 to fund 50 new educational beehives for schools. The monthlong fundraising effort to support the Bee Grant Program will kick off the celebration of National Pollinator Month in June and will include three bee-inspired fundraising dinners.

“Through the Give Bees A Chance campaign, we’re giving kids access to educational beehives where they can observe bees up close and learn about the vital role these pollinators play in growing our food,” said Nona Evans, president and executive director of Whole Kids Foundation in apress release. “These opportunities help empower kids to become stewards for pollinators and the rest of the natural environment.”

Threats to bee colonies include pesticides, mites and beetles, diseases, starvation, extreme weather conditions, and insufficient foliage. However, these threats can be addressed with careful strategic help and fundraising efforts. So far, organic producers including Once Upon A Farm, Horizon Organic, Cascadian Farm, KIND and Honest are pledging a combined total of $87,500 for the cause.

The Foundation is also holding three dinners to raise funds and awareness, and to showcase the foods we have thanks to bees. Dinner dates and locations:
  • Chefs Melissa King and Tu David Phu (Bay Area/Oakland) — Thursday, June 6, 6:30 pm, at Oakland Asian Cultural Center
  • Chef Mark Schmidt with owner and beekeeper Donnette Hansen (Houston) — Thursday, June 13, 6:30 pm at Rainbow Lodge
  • Chef Anne Quatrano (Atlanta) — Sunday, June 30, 5:30 pm at Bacchanalia
For tickets and details for the bee dinners, visitwholekidsfoundation.org/givebeesachance.

Whole Kids Foundation is also hosting a free #GiveBeesAChance Family Fest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 2, at the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller, 10 am – 1 pm. Find out more information about the festivalhere.