As 2024 comes to a close, we want to express our deepest gratitude to you—our incredible supporters, volunteers, and partners. Thanks to your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to pollinator education, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, reaching students, educators, and communities far and wide. Together, we’re fostering stewardship, driving climate action, and ensuring a sustainable future for pollinators.
EXCITING NEW CHANGES
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jamie Chan to the hive as the new Executive Director of Planet Bee Foundation! She brings a remarkable blend of expertise in nonprofit leadership, higher education, and STEM teacher training, along with a deep-seated passion for sustainability, environmental education, and addressing the challenges of climate change. Her visionary approach fosters a love of learning, and her dedication to serving students in high-needs communities amplifies Planet Bee’s mission to empower communities, protect our planet’s pollinators, and promote climate resilience.
Debra Tomaszewski, the co-founder and former Executive Director, will now take on the role of Development Director. With over 40 years of experience in education and community leadership, Debra’s expertise and dedication have been instrumental in shaping Planet Bee Foundation’s vision and impact. In her new role, she will focus on securing strategic partnerships, building relationships with donors, and driving initiatives that support the Foundation’s mission and long-term goals.
A YEAR OF GROWTH AND IMPACT
2024 has been a year of significant growth and success for Planet Bee Foundation. This year, our STEM lessons and stewardship programs reached a record 175,000 students, with 100% of classroom teachers rating our programs as “excellent” and 100% of their students expressing a desire to support pollinator conservation after participating in a Planet Bee lesson—an inspiring testament to the program's success!
Our impactful programs have equipped students with the tools to nurture biodiversity and sustainability, igniting their passion for pollinator conservation and paving the way for future STEM opportunities. All lessons were offered at no cost, reflecting our commitment to equity and inclusion, made possible by our generous partners.
Our Bee-yond HarvestED Program, launched in 2024, engages students in gardening and agriculture education—even in spaces without outdoor access. Thousands of students were granted this garden and agriculture curriculum, which features five Asynchronous Digital STEM Toolkit Units containing engaging presentations, writing prompts, STEAM activities, videos, and hands-on experiments designed to promote sustainability in classrooms and beyond. Additionally, over 50 schools were granted kits packed with educational materials to implement these lessons. Sponsored by The GIANT Company, this program fosters a hands-on program promoting a deep understanding of sustainable agriculture while aligning with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Through our Seed Ball Kit Stewardship Grants, students actively participated in hands-on conservation by crafting more than 70,000 seed balls—small bundles of seeds and soil designed to support the growth of native plants. These efforts resulted in the planting of 700,000 pollinator-friendly flowers across the country, transforming barren or underutilized areas into vibrant, thriving habitats. By engaging in this initiative, students not only contributed to restoring ecosystems but also developed a deeper understanding of their role in environmental stewardship. These projects empowered young learners to take tangible action in addressing pollinator habitat loss, fostering a sense of responsibility and connection to the natural world. The Seedball Stewardship Grant for 2025 will open on January 6th. Classroom teachers—mark your calendars!
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We couldn’t have accomplished this without the unwavering support of our incredible partners, who generously fund school programs, donate resources, and volunteer their time.
Our corporate partners have been instrumental in raising awareness about pollinator conservation and creating pathways for STEM education nationwide. With a special focus on Title One schools and underserved communities, partners like The Giant Company, Google, Cisco, Genentech, Western Digital, SAP, Farnell Electronics, Stryker, Databricks, NBC Universal, Beluga Bee, Johnny Was, Dale Hardware, BeeSure, Visit.org, Sutro Tower, Pure Storage, and FluxxLabs have provided lessons and reach more students, expand our program offerings, and amplifying our impact.
Our Adopt-a-Hive program partners have also played a vital role, in supporting pollinator health and fostering greener spaces. This year’s partners include Google HQ, The Giant Company, Sutro Tower, Genentech, SAP, Stanford University, Cisco, Heron’s Head Eco Center, Visitacion Valley, Middle School, and DB Schenker. These organizations have made a lasting impact through their commitment to pollinator conservation and environmental education.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to community partners like Rotary International, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, NJ Audubon Society, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Sisterhood Garden, SF Reimagined, and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. Their collaboration helps bring our mission beyond classrooms and into local communities.
UNWAVERING SUPPORT & INSPIRING DEDICATION
A special heartfelt thanks to Code Crew for their in-kind support in producing our amazing newsletter; Wilson Sonsini Law Firm; Julia Reigal and Erika Muhl for their unwavering guidance; and our incredible Board of Directors—Ken Chow, Tory Woods, Dr. John Hafernik, Bill Tomaszewski, and Dave Hunter.
We thank our wonderful interns and College Corp Fellows from San Francisco State University for being our right hands in the hive! Our future green leaders include Franchesca Cu-Pyun, Kristel Dabandan, Max Mayfield, Kristel, and Kayla.
Lastly, the exceptional dedication of our staff, who bring our mission to life every single day, is truly awe-inspiring. Their hard work empowers students to explore the wonders of science through hands-on environmental education and inspires others to take meaningful steps toward pollinator conservation. Whether teaching young minds about the critical role bees play in our ecosystems or partnering with communities to foster sustainable practices, their impact is truly transformative.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025 & BEEYOND!
As we move into 2025, we are excited to expand our programs, create additional pollinator habitats, and engage with even more students and communities. Our commitment is to build a future where pollinators thrive and environmental education is accessible to all in our dedication to equity and inclusion.
To support this vision, we are working on a new hands-on tech program that will provide innovative learning experiences and encourage hands-on exploration of environmental issues. Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out this exciting new initiative next year! Want to get involved? Email debra@planetbee.org for information!
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