Catherine “Kitty” Hershey played an instrumental role in the founding of Milton Hershey School (MHS) back in 1909. When asked why they started the home and school, her husband Milton S. Hershey frankly said, “It was Kitty’s idea.”

     Unable to have children of their own, Catherine and Milton donated their fortune as an enduring contribution to children in need, a gift that continues today at MHS and Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS).

     Catherine was born on July 6, 1871, in Jamestown, New York, the second of four children and the daughter of Irish immigrants. Like Milton, she came from humble beginnings.

     She left school early to work in a local jewelry store to help ease her family’s financial burden. In 1897, a chance crossing of paths with Milton at A.D. Work’s Confectionary while he was traveling to his Chicago factory changed the course of history.

     A year later, they married and settled in Lancaster, Pa., where the power couple laid the building blocks of their impactful legacy.

     Catherine’s service extended beyond the founding of MHS. She organized a committee to provide reception and care for soldiers at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lancaster and later raised funds for the hospital. She was a supporter of a shelter for homeless women and a lifelong member of the Lancaster Charity Society.

     Catherine was a key advocate for philanthropy, which rubbed off on Milton. In perhaps the earliest example of his newfound generosity, Milton donated $5,000 to Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster for the outfitting of a chemical laboratory. 

     While her life was cut short at the young age of 43 by a debilitating disease of the nervous system, Catherine fought courageously until her death on March 25, 1915. Her inspiration lives on through MHS and CHS, which help children and families in need lead fulfilling and productive lives, an enduring legacy the Hersheys set forth over 100 years ago.

     When MHS announced its new ECE (Early Childhood Education) initiative in 2021, Catherine was chosen as the namesake to honor her life and legacy. Known for her kind and nurturing spirit, Catherine believed every child deserved a chance to thrive. Her compassion and kindness now inspire support for the youngest children in our communities. Her dream of providing care and education to those who need it lives on each day at CHS, which is now open for admissions across four locations.