You NEVER know when you might be inspired.
J and I got away for a few days to Hershey, PA for our anniversary. We stayed at the lovely Hotel Hershey. For the most part we just hung out at the pool (a wonderful luxury to be able to swim and chill without the little people) and ate at the most amazing restaurants at the hotel. On this note, I must mention the pierogies. Not my usual fare. Kind-of sounds like cafeteria food maybe. Okay, these were AMAZING! Had them two nights in a row as a matter of fact--that's how good they were. But, I digress...
When I think of Hershey, the obvious comes to mind--Chocolate bars for s'mores and Hershey Park. But there is much more to the story.
So Milton Hershey really wasn't very successful until he was like 40. He actually had his first success with caramels but realized that they were a fad and that chocolate was here to stay.
He built the Hershey Chocolate Factory in practically the-middle-of-no-where PA. During the great depression he got rid of his bulldozer and instead hired more men to do the work so that he could provide jobs.
But this is the coolest part. In 1909 he and his wife founded the Milton Hershey School--a school for orphan boys. He put all of his personal wealth from his companies into this school in the form of a trust. It's worth about 6 billion dollars today.
So this dude who took incredible risks, aquired magnificent wealth and basically built a flourishing town from nothing, left his life savings to children who most might consider without hope. His legacy far outlives his life.
Today, Milton Hershey School is a cost-free, private, coeducational home and school for children from families of low income, limited resources, and social need. The students there live with 9-13 other students with a married couple. There have been over 8,000 graduates. In his words, "If we had helped a hundred children it would have all been worthwhile."
His story is really so much better than I can relate--you can start to find out more about his life here. If you're a history buff, check out the Hershey Story on YouTube.
For more about the school, watch this moving 60 second clip here.
Who knew what a cool legacy a bar of chocolate represents?
I read this recently about Milton Hershey while looking at the Mid Atlantic Orphan Summit page because one of the break out sessions is on him and I wondered why! So cool!
ReplyDeleteSo if you guys are close enough to go to Hershey, are you going to go back for the Summit in November? :)
Also, we're 2 - 2 1/2 hours North of Hershey in Northeast PA. And I think you said you're in NY. So we must not be too terribly far from you.
that is WAY cool... i had no idea!
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm Liv's husband. I like your blog, and the video, "Waiting."
ReplyDeleteIt's just so cool to see and hear other families with our same passion. Life is so tiny and short, adopting makes a whole lot of sense. What a great use of the little time we have, money, tears, paper-work, right?
I'm happy to see another family crazy for Jesus. Keep it up! We all definitely have to get together after we get our girls! Wow! How awesome will that be!
Babe, this video made me cry. I'm really inspired by our trip and this guy's legacy!
ReplyDeleteMike, we make it back your way pretty frequently. Would love to meet up with you and Liv sometime. J