Greater Honeycomb founder recognized for advancing animal welfare and rare disease initiatives
NEW YORK, NY — Elizabeth Izard Apelles, founder of the nonprofit Greater Honeycomb and founder and
former CEO and president of healthcare marketing agency Greater Than One, has been recognized with a
2026 Humanitarian Award from the Association of Medical Media (AMM), honoring her commitment to
improving the lives of others through innovative philanthropic initiatives.
Presented during the Association of Medical Media’s 2026 Nexus Awards Gala, the Humanitarian Award
recognizes professionals who have made exceptional contributions to their communities through service,
compassion and leadership.
For Apelles, the recognition reflects a lifelong belief that professional success should create opportunities to
make a meaningful difference beyond the workplace.
Most recently, Apelles launched Honey Paws, an initiative dedicated to supporting animal rescue
organizations while raising awareness of the need for more humane treatment of dogs bred in commercial
puppy mills. Through professionally managed e-commerce platforms and recurring fundraising programs,
Honey Paws helps nonprofit organizations build dependable, long-term revenue streams while educating
the public about responsible animal welfare and encouraging greater community involvement.
Earlier, inspired by a family member’s decade-long journey to obtain a diagnosis for a rare disease, Apelles
founded Honeycomb Health to help address the chronic funding challenges facing rare disease
organizations. Like Honey Paws, Honeycomb Health provides professionally managed fundraising platforms
designed to create sustainable revenue while expanding awareness of the challenges faced by patients and
their families.
“Throughout my business career, my passion has always extended beyond business itself to
finding ways to give back,” said Apelles. “That commitment inspired me to create Honeycomb
Health after witnessing a family member’s decade-long journey to obtain a diagnosis for a
rare disease. Helping raise awareness and sustainable support for rare disease organizations
has become deeply personal to me. More recently, I have become equally passionate about
protecting breeding dogs and supporting rescue organizations through Honey Paws. My
hope is that both initiatives will continue to build awareness, inspire compassion and provide
nonprofit organizations with dependable resources that allow them to focus on the people
and animals they serve.”
During her distinguished career, Apelles built Greater Than One into one of the healthcare industry’s
leading independent marketing agencies, known for its innovation and commitment to improving patient
engagement. Following her agency career, she has devoted her efforts to philanthropy, applying her
entrepreneurial experience to develop sustainable programs that help nonprofit organizations increase
both funding and public awareness.
The 2026 Humanitarian Award recognizes not only Apelles’ professional accomplishments, but also her
ongoing commitment to transforming personal experiences into initiatives that create lasting impact for
communities in need.
About Greater Honeycomb
Greater Honeycomb is a nonprofit organization founded by Elizabeth Izard Apelles to develop innovative
initiatives that help nonprofit organizations create sustainable fundraising opportunities while increasing
public awareness of important causes. Its initiatives include Honey Paws, which supports animal rescue
organizations and advocates for the humane treatment of dogs bred in commercial puppy mills, and
Honeycomb Health, which helps rare disease organizations build long-term financial sustainability and
public awareness.