It has been a banner year for Founding Forward!
Welcome to our final newsletter of 2024. The year may be winding down, but we’re winding up for 2025! Here are some highlights for our December e-newsletter:
- Before the year ends, join us on our Valley Forge campus for our Wreaths Across the Grove event on December 14. The event will pay tribute to our fallen heroes. It will include a short program, wreath-laying, and a reception.
- Teacher programs: January will bring the first session of our brand-new weekend summit for educators on the Declaration of Independence, held in collaboration with the Jack Miller Center’s Founding Civics Initiative. Apply or share today! Applications for our summer 2025 professional development seminars, workshops, and summits will open soon.
- Student programs: Applications are open for our 2025 Spirit of America Youth Leadership programs for high school students.
- Get ready for a thought-provoking start to the new year by signing up for one of our January speaker programs.
- All of the above and below highlights are made possible through the generous contributions of those who choose to support our work. In the spirit of the season, please consider making your gift today.
Before you read on, all of us at Founding Forward wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2025. (And ICYMI, here’s a link to our thought-leadership piece on Thanksgiving.)
Join us to honor our fallen heroes
We invite you to join Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove and Founding Forward on December 14 as we honor the fallen and pay tribute to 3,500+ Medal of Honor recipients through Wreaths Across the Grove. This very special event is held in conjunction with National Wreaths Across America Day.
We’ll gather at the Medal of Honor Grove on our Valley Forge campus at 10:00am for a short ceremony, followed by wreath-laying, and a reception with light refreshments. So that we can properly plan, please register by December 6.
Teachers can choose from almost a dozen professional development opportunities
With a full 2025 schedule of weeklong seminars, traveling workshops, and our new weekend summits, Founding Forward has expanded its professional development offerings for educators. We will continue to hold our teacher seminars and weekend summits at Union League Liberty Hill, and we will offer three traveling motorcoach tours.
Applications are now being accepted for the January 17-19 Declaration of Independence weekend summit. This new three-day program format, held in collaboration with Jack Miller Center’s Founding Civics Initiative, will include historic interpreters, content from scholarly experts, faculty-led discussions of relevant primary sources, and a field study of historic sites, archives, and museums.
Applications for the remainder of our programs will open on December 13 forJoshua Chamberlain League members and January 1 for the general public. See the full line-up of our accredited and highly acclaimed programs!
Looking ahead to our January speaker programs
Liberty Series: America’s Political Polarization
with Ben Klutskey, Executive Director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. I Monday, January 13, 6:30pm
Library Hour: Spies, Science, and Thomas Jefferson
with Dr. Patrick Spero, incoming CEO of the American Philosophical Society. I Thursday, January 23, 6:30p.m.
Civil War Round Table: Our Ancient Faith
with Dr. Allen Guelzo, Lincoln Prize-winning historian. I Thursday, January 30, 6:30p.m.
In addition to these January programs, please visit the Founding Forward website to view all of our 2025 speaker programs booked thus far. Click here to view upcoming events.
Support the transformation of the next generation
Founding Forward’s programs shape America’s future leaders by instilling an understanding and respect for our country’s founding principles, equipping them to be engaged, informed citizens. It’s not just information; it’s transformation!
Your tax-deductible sponsorship of a teacher and student will make it possible for them to experience one of Founding Forward’s immersive, in-person, multi-day education programs. Please consider Founding Forward in your year-end and Giving Tuesday charitable donations. All donations made by midnight, Tuesday, December 31, will be acknowledged as eligible for tax credit – but don’t wait until the last minute to positively influence the future: make your gift today.
As teacher program participant Karen Richey of Elk Grove, CA, said: “I was provided with content and resources that will enrich my teaching and the experiences of the 220+ students that I teach each year. Thank you for investing in me and my students.”
We need your help to make this work possible. Make your gift today.