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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.

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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.

Catherine

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.

K.I.T.T.Y. Values

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.

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!

Oct 2020

Our story begins

Historical Milton and Catherine Shot
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

Gurt and Senate
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 2022

Expansion into Lancaster County

Expansion into Lancaster 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.
Sep 2023

Grand opening of CHS Hershey

CHS Hershey Ribbon Cutting Event
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.
Sep 2024

Grand opening of CHS Harrisburg

CHS Harrisburg Ribbon Cutting
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

Convocation Event
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.
Feb 2025

CHS ECE Leaders Summit

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CHS hosts its third annual ECE (Early Childhood Education) Leaders Summit with over 500 attendees participating. 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.
Jan 2040

What’s next: CHS Middletown opens in 2025

Middletown Front Entrance Rendering
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

Nurture, Play, Discover
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.
Family

For interested families

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

Learn more
Staff

For interested professionals

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

Join the team
Our Leaders

Hear from our leaders

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

Watch videos
Catherine Hershey Schools

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School and will be staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© 2025 Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning