History of Hershey

Today's blog is a history lesson, but one that we were very impressed with!  ( I will try to give the short version)

Milton Hershey first made his fortune selling caramels, and used this money to develop a way to make chocolate that tasted good, and could be afforded by the "regular" folk. At the beginning of the 1900's, chocolate was very expensive, and a luxury item for most Americans.  Hershey chocolate was both affordable and good quality.  He built his factory in Hershey because he could access fresh milk from the dairy farms in the Lancaster area.  Then he built homes for all the people who worked in his factory, and libraries, and schools, and sporting facilities......  During the depression he continued to build and to ensure that all the people of Hershey had jobs, and health care.  He built a whole community and the resources to go with it.

He and his wife could not have children, and so they decided to adopt some and put them in school.  But first, he built the school.  And then he brought in more boys, orphans, ones from poor or needy families. The school continued to grow and take in more and more kids.  He provided everything for them: food, clothes, medical care, and most importantly, a safe place to live and a good education.

Shortly after his wife died, he donated his fortune and his company, some sixty million dollars, to this school.  It is currently second only to Harvard as the richest school in the US. 

It is an amazing campus!!!  Over 1800 students (including girls now) live at the school.  They all come from poor or underpriviledged homes, or from families at risk.  They are given everything they need, and their college tuition is paid for as well.  About 95 % of the students continue on to university or college.  They live with house parents who give them a stable environment, and a place where they can be safe and happy.  The alumni from this school have gone on to do great things as well because they understand the importance of helping others and giving back.

This was the story of how one individual, with the great ideas and support of his wife, has made a huge difference in thousands of lives because he believed that the money he made should be reinvested in the lives around him.

As we are travelling through America we hear so much about capitalism, the whole mess their health care system is in right now, and the importance of making and keeping their money.  We think that they should look back upon the men and women, like the Hershey's, who built this country, and were more concerned with sharing, than with keeping their good fortune.

  We were very impressed with what has been happening here in Hershey, and just thought that others should know about it, too!

  And the next time you buy a Hershey chocolate bar, know that the profits are going to a really good cause!!!