A Kiss for the Children

Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Milton Hershey's company began producing milk chocolate in bars in 1907 in wafers, bars, and the signature flat-bottomed cone shaped "kiss". At first they were individually wrapped in little squares of silver foil, but in 1921 machine wrapping was introduced. That technology was also used to add the signature “plume” at the top to signify to consumers that this was a genuine Hershey's Kiss chocolate. In 1924, the plume became a trademark.

For the next several decades of production, the Hershey chocolate bar sold for a nickel. It was nicknamed the "nickel chocolate bar." Milton's goal was to take chocolate from the luxury class it was in and make it affordable to everyone. Though it shrank in size several times due to the cost of production, the company managed to sell the bar for a nickel from 1903 to 1970. The bar continues to fluctuate in size with the cost of production to this day but the company is quick to point out that it does in fact sometimes increase in size as well.

But Milton Hershey did more than invent a recipe for chocolate.

He and his wife, Catherine, were sad because they had no children of their own, and they were anxious to put their growing chocolate profits to better use. Much of the money he made from the recipe was poured into founding the 1909 Hershey Industrial school, a 10,000-acre plot of land with schools that continues to provide education for over 1200 children today whose family lives have been disrupted at home. Their initial enrollment was just 10 but grew quickly. Today is a safe haven for children K-12 from broken or financially troubled backgrounds.

From the Milton Hershey School page:

At Milton Hershey School, we know that in order to be happy, safe, and productive, students need guidance and support in all parts of their lives.

The excellent education at Milton Hershey School starts with dedicated teachers who care about each student's learning experience. Classes are small - an average of 15 students for each teacher, so each student gets individual attention and support.

Students live in large, comfortable homes with 10 to 14 students in their own age group. A pair of married houseparents oversee each home, providing the structure that children need and taking an active interest in their development."

Hershey's belief that an individual is morally obligated to share the fruits of success with others resulted in significant contributions to society.

The Milton Hershey School today:

Blanche

sources:

http://www.hersheys.com/discover/milton/hershey_ind_school.asp

http://www.thehersheylegacy.com/

http://www.hersheys.com/discover/history/company.asp

http://www.ehow.com/about_5036350_history-milk-chocolate-candy-bar.html