100 years ago, a school started by Milton Hershey, founder of the iconic chocolate company, began to profoundly and positively impact the lives of children in need.
Today, the story of the school is unveiled at a screening of Living the Legacy: The Untold Story of Milton Hershey School. This “greatest story never told” is a gritty, heartwarming depiction of the struggles and triumphs of the students as witnessed by academy award-winning director, Cynthia Wade.
Milton Hershey School was founded in 1909, by Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine, to provide children in need with a positive, structured and nurturing home life and outstanding education. The School is a cost-free, private coeducational home and school for children from families of low income, limited resources and social need and is the largest of its kind in the nation. Today, Milton Hershey School Today, Milton Hershey School serves nearly 2,000 children offering opportunities and resources to help them overcome their challenging beginnings. The students live in family-like homes on campus and are provided a first-rate education, and become a part of a supportive and nurturing community.
Mr. Hershey believed so strongly in the importance of the School that before his death, he devoted his entire fortune to ensure its continued growth and development. Simply put, every time someone enjoys a Hershey product, they help to foster opportunity through the students, educators and staff at Milton Hershey School.
“During our centennial, we are celebrating the success of Milton Hershey School alumni and thanking people across the country for the role they play in supporting the School,” said Dr. Anthony Colistra, President, Milton Hershey School and a graduate of the MHS class of 1959. “We want to raise awareness of Milton Hershey School and its good work so that we attract talented staff – from educators to health professionals to houseparents – as well as new students who need an opportunity at a better life.”
For more information about the Milton Hershey School centennial and the Hershey Legacy, go here.
About Milton Hershey School
Milton Hershey School (MHS) is the nation’s largest, cost-free, private, co-educational home and school for children from families of low income, limited resources and social need. The School has expanded over the decades, but its mission remains the same: to build character and provide children with the skills necessary to be successful in all aspects of life.
For a century, MHS has served as a transforming environment for children in need. Boys and girls who hail from different social and ethnic backgrounds, but are connected by surroundings that threaten their ability to realize their dreams, come together in Hershey, PA.
The School offers a positive, structured home life year-round and an excellent pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education. Students live with same-gender peers in family-style homes, each of which is overseen by a married couple with child-care experience. These houseparents take an active role in nurturing MHS students’ development and well-being.
At MHS, students receive free housing, clothing, and medical and dental care based on their individual needs. They also have access to a variety of extracurricular activities that help them explore their talents and interests, build leadership and character and truly become a part of their new family.
For 100 years, MHS has been preparing students to lead fulfilling lives and become productive members of society. Over that time, MHS graduates’ contributions have been measurable in dollars, but immeasurable in value:
• Ninety percent of MHS students go on to pursue a higher education.
• MHS alumni contribute up to $9,800,000 per year to charitable causes.
• As many as 152,000 people are impacted annually by alumni activities.
• MHS alumni volunteer 457,000 hours per year helping their fellow.
Americans through a wider array of charitable causes The MHS impact is felt by the individual students, their families and countless lives of people living in the communities they touch.
For more information visit the school’s website here.
