About our Hive
Hives for Heroes® is more than an organization it’s a movement of healing and hope. Founded in 2018, we are a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through beekeeping. What began as one hive in Houston has grown into the largest beekeeping network in the United States, uniting over 10,000 members and managing more than 100,000 hives across all 50 states.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to create purpose, connection, and community for those who served, while protecting pollinators and promoting sustainability. Through our proven peer to peer mentorship model we foster life-changing relationships rooted in trust, learning, and camaraderie. These partnerships not only strengthen individual Heroes but also ripple outward building healthier families, stronger communities, and a thriving environment.
At the heart of Hives for Heroes is the belief that service never ends, it simply takes new form. Every jar of honey harvested, every hive managed, and every community touched reflects our core values: connection, purpose, relationships, and service. Together, we are transforming the lives of Heroes while safeguarding the pollinators that sustain our food systems and ecosystems.
Our Hive is growing and everyone has a role to play. Whether you are a Hero or a Hero supporter, you are part of a movement that proves healing is possible, community is powerful, and together, we can change the world, one hive at a time.
Why We Exist
The transition from service is often one of the hardest battles our Heroes face. When the uniform comes off, many Veterans, Service Members, and First Responders are left with deep questions: Who am I now? Where do I belong? What is my purpose? For too many, the answers are marked by isolation, stress, depression, or a profound loss of identity.
At Hives for Heroes®, we believe healing requires more than words; it requires action, community, and connection. The hive offers something extraordinary: calm in the midst of chaos, focus in the face of stress, and a renewed sense of connection to both nature and community. Working with bees requires patience, discipline, and presence - the same qualities developed in service, now transformed into a healthy and restorative practice.
Through our proven mentorship model, Heroes and experienced beekeepers walk together, providing guidance, encouragement, and friendship. These hands-on experiences rebuild confidence, spark curiosity, and create a sense of belonging that is often lost after service.
But our mission reaches further. As Heroes heal, they also contribute to protecting pollinators and promoting sustainability. Every hive managed and every bee protected strengthens the environment we all depend on.
Why do we exist? Because every Hero deserves a new mission, every community needs its Heroes, and every hive reminds us that life is stronger when we work together.
Founder’s Story
Steve Jimenez, a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, served as a U.S. Marine Corps Officer with a deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) before beginning a successful career in the private sector. He held leadership roles in manufacturing with two respected companies, later launching his own business and completing a positive exit.
From the outside, his journey looked like the definition of success; service, education, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. But inside, the transition was difficult. Despite professional achievements, Steve battled depression, isolation, and a loss of purpose, symptoms of severe PTSD.
Healing came in an unexpected place: the honeybee. Beekeeping mirrored the discipline and teamwork of the Marines while offering peace and renewal. In his words, "chaos to calmness"
From this experience, he founded Hives for Heroes®, now the nation’s largest beekeeping network, serving over 10,000 Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders across all 50 states.
Steve later earned his MBA from Rice University and has been recognized nationally with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and awarded by the Texas Business Hall of Fame as a Future Texas Legend.
Steve insists the true strength of Hives for Heroes is not his own story, yet the collective story of Heroes who stand shoulder to shoulder, serving and healing together. Our Hives for Heroes story is proof that while service may change form, its purpose never ends.
Our Model: Mentorship & Growth
At the heart of Hives for Heroes® is a simple but powerful model: connection. We believe healing happens in community, not in isolation. That’s why every Hero who joins our network begins as a NewBEE recieves access to education and a community which provides hands-on guidance, encouragement, and support.
This model is more than learning beekeeping skills; it’s about building trust, restoring confidence, and creating authentic relationships. Through direct experience in the hive, NewBEEs discover patience, focus, and discipline. They gain access to education, resources, and community events that deepen their knowledge and broaden their connections.
Over time, something remarkable happens: NewBEEs become leaders. As their confidence grows, they begin mentoring the next wave of Heroes, passing on wisdom and encouragement. This cycle of growth is at the core of our mission. It not only transforms individual lives but strengthens families, communities, and the environment.
Every connection made, every hive managed, and every relationship built contributes to a ripple effect of healing and impact. Our nation's Heroes rediscover purpose. Mentors find joy in giving back. Communities gain resilience. Pollinators are protected. And together, we are cultivating a culture where service continues; through people, bees, and nature.
Our model works because it’s rooted in what matters most: connection, mentorship, and growth that lasts a lifetime.