Our story

We are focused on early childhood learning. We provide weekday care and education for children from six weeks to age 5 from qualifying families—with all costs covered. Learn about Catherine Hershey, our values, and the legacy that has made this all possible.

Mission & vision

Our mission

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning creates high-quality learning communities that nurture, educate, and empower children and families in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Our vision

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning transforms the lives of children by providing them with the foundation for lifelong success. CHS embraces and supports families, strengthens the broader community, and serves as a leader in early childhood education to improve outcomes for children everywhere.

About Catherine

Catherine Hershey was known for her kind and nurturing spirit.

She believed that every child deserved a chance to thrive. She dedicated her life to this through philanthropy and generosity—most notably in her influence to found Milton Hershey School with her husband, chocolatier Milton S. Hershey. Their dream has shaped the lives of thousands of children and their legacy continues to this day.

Catherine Hershey’s compassion and kindness now inspires 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 Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.

Our values inspired by Kitty

Catherine Hershey was known as “Kitty” to her friends and family. We use this term of endearment as an acronym for the values that embody Catherine’s spirit. At CHS, we encourage and reward teachers and staff for exemplifying these values in their work, including through our K.I.T.T.Y. Recognition Program. As a result, we model these values every day for children and families at our centers.

Kind: We communicate with courtesy and empathy.
Impactful: We strive to make an impact in our community.
Trustworthy: We make good decisions.
Teachable: We see learning as never ending.
Your Best Self: We give our best each day.

Honoring Catherine’s legacy

To honor and serve as a reminder of Catherine’s legacy, passions, and beliefs, engaging elements are incorporated into the CHS program and centers to engage children, families, staff, and visitors.

Catherine Hershey RoseCHS and Hershey Gardens named the official “Catherine Hershey Rose” in honor of our namesake in June 2023. These double-bloom, peach-colored roses beautifully adorn the outside of our centers.

STEM GardensThe playful learning experiences in our STEM Gardens reflect Catherine’s love of the outdoors, travel, and exploration with an activity titled “Kitty’s Hide & Seek.”

Hugs and Kisses from CatherineEach center features an interactive tic-tac-toe display that lets children explore pictures of Catherine’s passions. This engaging exhibit is inspired by the Hugs and Kisses from Catherine program at Milton Hershey School, founded by Jane Gurt. The mentoring program builds kindness and confidence in female MHS students.

Classroom namesAs an ever-present reminder of Catherine’s love of gardening, we name CHS classrooms after things typically found in a garden.

Community impactAt each CHS center, a display honors Catherine Hershey’s impact on her communities and celebrates her improvements to the lives of people in Hershey, PA and beyond.

CHS Milestones

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning has marked many exciting milestones since our founding in 2020. Explore our timeline to journey through some of our most important days and follow along as we continue to grow and celebrate significant moments on the path ahead!

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2040

Oct 2020

Our story begins

Milton Hershey School (MHS) announces a $350 million initiative to develop six state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) will serve children six weeks to age 5 and honor the life and legacy of Catherine “Kitty” Hershey, a visionary educational philanthropist and the wife of Milton S. Hershey.

Jul 2021

CHS leadership named

In one of the highlights of our first year, Pete Gurt, president of MHS, is named president of CHS, and Senate Alexander, Esq., is named executive director. Both are proud MHS alumni committed to expanding the Hersheys’ legacy.

Nov 2021

CHS Hershey groundbreaking

Little more than a year after our founding, CHS holds a momentous groundbreaking ceremony for CHS Hershey, the first of our six state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education Centers. CHS Hershey is one of three planned Dauphin County locations.

Sep 2022

Launch of professional development program

CHS launches “Seeds to Lead,” our comprehensive, nearly year-long, paid professional development program. The program helps our teachers and staff prepare for our Hershey Center’s opening, enhancing their skills in order to embody our mission, meet each child’s and family’s needs, and deliver the CHS experience.

Nov 2022

Expansion into Lancaster County

One year after the groundbreaking for our first of three centers in Dauphin County, CHS unveils plans to open the three Early Childhood Education Centers in Lancaster County. The announcement is particularly meaningful since Lancaster County is where Milton learned the art of candy making, and where Catherine’s philanthropic passion began to blossom.

Mar 2023

Inaugural CHS ECE Leaders Summit

CHS hosts its inaugural ECE (Early Childhood Education) Leaders Summit. The objective is to share important and emerging topics in the field, spark important conversations, enable new relationships, and explore innovative approaches with other professionals in ECE, child development, and family services. It is our hope that this annual gathering will help activate our vision of improving outcomes for children everywhere.

Sep 2023

Grand opening of CHS Hershey

Two years after breaking ground, we celebrate the grand opening of CHS Hershey, our first state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education Center. Teachers and staff who completed the “Seeds to Lead” development program now put what they’ve learned into action by serving our first 150 children.

Mar 2024

CHS Middletown groundbreaking

Construction begins for CHS Middletown, our third center in Dauphin County. The groundbreaking includes a seed-planting ceremony honoring Catherine Hershey’s love for flowers and symbolizing the rich and nurturing foundation CHS will provide to help children and families flourish.

Jun 2024

First “Moving On” celebration

Families, teachers, Family Success Advocates, and staff gather for a “Moving On” celebration, honoring the first class of CHS children to transition to kindergarten.

Sep 2024

Grand opening of CHS Harrisburg

CHS Harrisburg opens, expanding our ability to deliver high-quality early childhood education with our second state-of-the-art center, and honoring the Hersheys’ legacy by serving even more Pennsylvania children and families. Having completed our “Seeds to Lead” professional development program, our faculty and staff are now fully prepared to nurture, educate, and empower children and families in the Harrisburg community.

Sep 2024

CHS Middletown convocation

CHS Middletown hosts a convocation celebrating the launch of our third “Seeds to Lead” professional development program. The event welcomes the teachers and staff of CHS Middletown and marks the beginning of their full-time employment. The program prepares the staff to serve children through our exemplary early childhood education experience in preparation for the center’s opening. CHS Middletown is still hiring qualified candidates. Visit our job board to learn about open positions.

Jan 2040

What’s next: CHS Middletown opens in 2025

CHS has begun accepting applications for enrollment at CHS Middletown, our third Early Childhood Education Center, located in Middletown, Pa. Opening in 2025, CHS Middletown will serve local area children, further expanding our footprint of service.

Jan 2040

Stay connected with CHS

Visit our News & Media page for the latest CHS happenings. Follow our Family Blog for parenting tips and information that can help your child and family thrive. Follow our Professional Blog for emerging insights and best practices in early childhood education.

For interested families

Want to learn more about us? Discover the CHS Experience.

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For interested professionals

Want to know more about current opportunities at CHS? Explore our open positions.

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Hear from our leaders

Hear about the vision for CHS from those leading the way in early childhood education.

Watch videos