Did you ever hear of the Milton Hershey School? Well, neither did I, until I was listening to a podcast one day about children living in poverty. The Milton Hershey School was mentioned, so I had to learn more.
The Milton Hershey School began as a dream shared by chocolate magnate Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine. Unable to have children of their own, they decided to use their wealth to create a school for orphaned boys. That was in 1909. It has evolved into one of the premier independent private schools for children of all races, Pre-K-12. About 2,000 children attend the school each year.
Admission is restricted to low=income individuals without intellectual or behavioral problems. Students live in group home with children of the same gender and similar age, with houseparents. The houseparents are a married couple who act as surrogate parents, helping them learn life skills and good character. The school is free for students and is funded by a trust containing most of Hershey's fortune, valued at $15 billion, making it the wealthiest private school in the U.S.
The school helps develop leadership skills and build character, and much of their learning is by doing. They have a opportunity to travel internationally and gain worldly experience and global awareness. What an awesome opportunity for the kids who attend the Milton Hershey School.
If you're interested in seeing how amazing the school is, go to UTube and view a 2 minute video that will tell you much more. I was so impressed I spent a long time reading about the school and it's history. It was a K-12 school until recently, when the Catherine Hershey School opened for Pre-K children, ages 4-5. I never knew it before, but the Hershey's used their wealth to change the lives of so many people. So impressive.
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