The Unique Philanthropist
The Humble Gift that Changed Lives
In 1918, chocolatier Milton S. Hershey gave his fortune to the home and school he and his wife built nearly a decade prior in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Ever humble, he didn’t publicize this gift. It wasn’t until the news of Mr. Hershey’s unique act of service splashed across the front page of The New York Times five years later in 1923 that the world found out. Today, 100 years later, Milton Hershey’s gift continues to change the lives of children and their families from across the country.
Read about Milton Hershey's Gift
One Shared Mission
Mr. Hershey was a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and community builder. Today, the town of Hershey, Pa. is centered around one mission: ensuring the success of MHS students.
Learn More1909
Milton and Catherine Hershey signed the Deed of Trust, founding the Hershey Industrial School. It began as a dream to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds get ahead in life through an exceptional education experience.
1910
The school admits its first four boys. Today, MHS cares for more than 2,000 students from across the country. The student body contains an equal number of boys and girls.
1918
Mr. Hershey places his stock holdings of 500,000 shares of the Hershey Chocolate Company, valued at $60 million, in a trust to benefit the school.
1923
News of Mr. Hershey’s generous gift broke in the Harrisburg Evening News on Nov. 8, 1923, and The New York Times published the next day. The Times followed up with a full-page spread on Nov. 18.
2023
Today—100 years after the world found out about the sweet gift that changes lives—MHS is thriving as one of the world’s best private schools.
Inspired by Milton Hershey's Gift
Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning will allow MHS to expand the impact of Milton and Catherine Hershey’s vision to serve more children from economically disadvantaged and at-risk backgrounds through education. CHS provides a cost-free educational, social, and cognitive day program to children of low-income from six weeks to age 5.
Join Our List
Interested in learning more about MHS? Find out about what’s happening on campus through the school’s weekly community e-newsletter.
