In 2016, Burt's Bees co-founder gave US 87,500 acres; now it's a monument
Roxanne Quimby, co-founder of the Burt's Bees brand, transitioned from a self-sufficient homesteader in Maine to a successful entrepreneur. She later donated 87,500 acres of Maine woodlands to the U.S. government, which were designated as a national monument.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of entrepreneurship, personal lifestyle choices, and large-scale environmental philanthropy.
Roxanne Quimby has had a life for the books. The woman who has held multiple roles including that of an artist, homesteader, mother, storyteller, philanthropist and entrepreneur is the face behind what is possibly the world's best-known lip balm brand. One that floods every woman's Pinterest board and definitely her cart. While Quimby may be known for her business, what she is also known for is donations of Maine woodlands to the US government in order to protect the land, which later became a national monument, as per the Burt's Bees website.The finding of a businesswomanWhile her sisters followed in their father's footsteps and went to business school, Roxanne drove cross-country from New England to go to art school to fulfil a dream she had since the age of five.
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