The Hershey Heritage Foundation was founded in 1997 by the alumni of the Milton Hershey School to raise and provide funds and services for orphaned and needy children and to provide transitional services for children leaving the Milton Hershey School and going out into the world on their own.

The Milton Hershey School was founded in 1909 by Mr. Hershey, the world-renown "Chocolate King", to nurture and educate orphaned children. Since that time, over 18,000 children have lived at the school. Today the Milton Hershey School provides education, training and housing for nearly 1,500 children from ages 4 through 18. The school is funded by a Trust set up by Mr. Hershey to provide for “his children”.

The Hershey Heritage Foundation is a non-profit charity registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations and is classified as a tax exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service under section 501 (c)(3). The Board of Directors of the Foundation consists of former students of Milton Hershey School who are now living successful and rewarding lives.

The Foundation raises money to provide services for alumni of the School to “bridge the gap” between life at the School and life after the School such as mentoring services, scholarships, emergency funds, discount programs and social events to help the students keep in touch with their former “brothers and sisters”.

More information on the Milton Hershey School can be found at: www.mhs-pa.org


~John Beekman, Chairman