Born: September 13, 1857

 

Industry: Chocolate

 

Philanthropy:

• Founded the Hershey Industrial School, for orphaned boys.

• The school now admits girls as well, and is known as the Milton Hershey School. It currently serves 1,900 students a year.

 

Fast Facts:

• Founded the Hershey Chocolate Corporation in 1905

• The Hershey Kiss was first created in 1907

• During World War II, he developed a chocolate that did not melt readily and supplied it to U.S. troops overseas

• He created Hershey, Pennsylvania as a model community for his workers. It included schools, parks, churches, homes and a trolley system.