Supporting Children and Youth

Supporting brighter futures for children has been a part of our company culture since Milton Hershey founded the Milton Hershey School in 1909. We continue this legacy by deepening our ongoing partnership with the Milton Hershey School and making strategic investments in youth education, development, and well-being initiatives at local, national, and global levels. 

Milton Hershey School Partnership: Investing in Education

Our focus on youth and education has been with us since 1909, when our founder established the Milton Hershey School (MHS) for kids in need. Through top-notch academics, personal attention and character development, MHS provides all of its students, pre-K through 12th grade, the opportunity to succeed.

MHS is a place where high-potential disadvantaged students receive a life-changing opportunity of an excellent private education, thanks to our shared founder who created this early social enterprise. Milton Hershey bequeathed his ownership of The Hershey Company to Milton Hershey School Trust (MHS Trust), with MHS as the sole beneficiary. The MHS Trust continues to be Hershey’s largest shareholder and receives a substantial portion of the dividends we pay each year. This unique relationship means that Hershey’s success directly benefits the school and more than 2,100 students.

Real World Business Experience

The Hershey Honors Business Program enables MHS students to experience the business world firsthand. This five-month program involves students:

• Learning various business topics in classes taught by Hershey employees
• Receiving mentoring and coaching from Hershey team members
• Pitching their own business ideas in presentations that close out the course

Project Fellowship

Our Project Fellowship program connects MHS students with caring people across the wider community. Monthly activities bring together student homes — the places students live together while at school — with Hershey employees and their families. Each year, more than 450 employees take part in this program.

This program fosters meaningful connections that extend beyond the classroom, providing students with additional mentorship and support while creating opportunities for Hershey employees to make a direct impact in students’ lives.

Internship Opportunities

Hershey provides high school interns with valuable hands-on experience across multiple business functions. Our internships offer students:

• Exposure to various career paths within Hershey
• Visits to manufacturing facilities and research and development centers
• Opportunities to work on real business challenges and present solutions to company leadership
• Professional development and networking with Hershey employees

These experiences help students build their résumés, clarify career interests and develop the professional skills they’ll need after graduation.

Apprenticeship Program Growth

Our pre-apprenticeship program for MHS students gives participants the opportunity to learn about manufacturing operations and career options in this field. Students who participate can earn their Pennsylvania-recognized pre-apprenticeship certificates, giving them a valuable credential as they plan their educational and career paths.

Continuing Education Scholarships

We expanded support for the Dearden Foundation and The Hershey Company Joint Scholarship for Continuing Education, which supports students in communities where we operate. This scholarship advances the legacy of William E. Dearden, one of MHS’s most beloved alumni who worked at both the school and The Hershey Company before eventually becoming CEO in 1976.

Through these multifaceted programs, we’re honoring Milton Hershey’s legacy while preparing the next generation of leaders with the education, skills and experiences they need to succeed.

Helping Children Thrive

In addition to our longstanding partnership with the Milton Hershey School, we support a range of local, national, and global efforts that help young people thrive. We focus on education, youth development, and well-being programs that help young people reach their full potential.

Our support also focuses on programs that encourage young people to create meaningful connections and take action on the issues they care most about in their schools and communities. This is grounded in evidence-based research that young people who feel more connected and engaged experience more positive mental well-being outcomes.  

Our partners include: