Dreams Realized: Hilary’s Story
For Hilary Magaro, Professional Development Manager at Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning (CHS), Hershey isn’t just the town where she works. It’s a family legacy.
One that has lasted through generations of her family, even before Milton and Catherine Hershey realized their dream and began shaping the community that exists today. Returning to serve that legacy and continue the Hersheys’ dream was a calling.
“I remember the exact evening the local news announced the Milton Hershey School initiative to create a series of early learning resource centers,” she said. “I can still picture what I was wearing, the time of day, and the feeling that came over me. It was an absolute certainty that I would return to Hershey. That was where I was meant to be.”
Today, she helps build the CHS mission by supporting educators across all Centers, yet her connection to the Hershey story goes back far earlier than her career. It reaches back more than a century.
Family Roots
Her family’s Hershey roots begin on Derry Road, where her great-great-grandfather bought a home in 1890, when the area was still known as the Village of Derry Church. The back of the home was used as a post office starting in 1860, in the village before the town of Hershey was even established. As a point of reference, the Hershey bar was first produced in 1900, and the Milton Hershey School Deed of Trust was established in 1909.
Her great-grandparents also lived in the home and played a role in building the original Hershey factory. On his walks along Derry Road and past Derry Presbyterian Church, her great-grandfather would sometimes cross paths with Milton Hershey himself, stopping for a friendly conversation. A photo of him now hangs in Hilary’s office, a daily reminder of that family connection.
The home still belongs to her family, and at a recent reunion, she stood on the porch of the Derry Road house, reflecting on the generations who came before her.
Back to Hershey
Hilary was born in the Hershey Medical Center, and while her family frequently moved because of her father’s job, they always returned to the Hershey and Cleona areas, where her parents grew up. Hilary’s parents met at the old Hershey Arena, where her dad was selling concessions and her mom was attending the event.
“I was born in the Hershey Medical Center on a cold and snowy Saturday a long time ago,” she said. “Considering the Milton Hershey School Trust donated the funds that made the Medical Center possible, perhaps I was always destined to find my way back to Hershey.”
After graduating from Cedar Cliff High School, she attended HACC and later Shippensburg University before teaching for 10 years in the West Shore School District and another 11 years with Head Start in Harrisburg.
Inspired by the Hersheys’ Vision
As she grew older, her appreciation for Hershey shifted from nostalgia to purpose.
“What captivated me most was the legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey—their vision, generosity, and the enduring impact of the Milton Hershey School,” she said. “I was inspired by how deeply their work touched the lives of children and families, and how that mission continued to shape the town.”
When she heard about the newly established CHS, she didn’t hesitate.
“I knew it was my turn to come home, to continue building upon the same legacy that has shaped generations of my family,” she said.
One Team, One Dream
In her role at CHS, she helps strengthen and support the educators who bring the Hersheys’ mission to life for children and families every day. Professional development, she believes, is an investment in the people who uphold the Hersheys’ values through their work.
Doing that work in the very community her ancestors helped build carries profound meaning. As does carrying forward the Hersheys’ dream to nurture and educate children in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
“Hershey is more than where I’m from,” Hilary said. “It’s part of who I am. Every time I drive through town, I feel that same sense of wonder and gratitude. The history, the people, and the spirit of Milton and Kitty Hershey’s dream still inspire me every single day.”
From the 1890 home her great-great-grandfather purchased to the mission she advances through CHS, her journey represents a dream realized across lifetimes and carried forward by those who feel called to champion it.
Dreams Realized series: As the 2025-26 CHS school-year theme “One Team, One Dream” was launched in August, stories will be shared throughout the year showcasing members of the CHS community following—and realizing—their dreams. Vol. 1: Dil’s Story, Vol. 2: Lily’s Story, Vol. 3: Luna’s Story, Vol. 4: Xavier’s Story, Vol. 5: Hilary’s Story.
