Giving a Gift to Future Generations
We begin at the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Central Pennsylvania, and end in a close-knit neighborhood with Craig Cowan and his nine girls. The sweet story that connects the kids and the candy began 100 years ago when the founder of Hershey chocolate, Milton Hershey, decided to leave his entire $60 million fortune to open a school for underprivileged kids.
"Well, me and my brother come from a home of financial difficulties and living with a single mother can be challenging at times," said Austin Keenan, 16, one student.
Before these kids got here they had anything but a sweet life.
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"My mom she's sick and she wanted us to come here and have a better life," said Ellis Atkins, 12.
But now, as part of an 1,800 strong family, they're learning valuable life lessons inside and out of the classroom.
"Just knowing that you're safe and clothes and food it's very just like comforting," said Hunter Keenan, 13, another student.
Life on this sprawling 2,600-acre campus costs $75,000 dollars per student per year - but the kids pay nothing. It's all paid for by the Hershey Trust - with a portion of each Hershey chocolate bar going to fund this unique institution.
"What's the difference between this school and a boarding school?" asked CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkson.
"This is a home and a school, with an emphasis on home," said Principal Anthony Colistra.
When he says the school is a home that's exactly what he means. Milton Hershey School has 142 of these, not dormitories like you might expect, but homes, where eight to 12 students live, cared for by house parents.
For the past 25 years Dianna and Craig Cowan have worked for the school as house parents. They treat all of the girls like their own.
"Everybody is here for different reasons, different difficult situations, so we help them through that situation," said Craig Cowan.
Here they get all the little comforts of home. It's a place where they can dream big.
"I've always wanted to be a pediatric cardiologist," said Katie Muir, 9.
"I'm thinking about going to MIT Tech," Hunter said.
For thousands of kids like Hunter and Katie, Milton Hershey continues to make their lives a whole lot richer.