InIt was a busy and productive summer for Founding Forward. Thanks to this year’s education programs, more than 520 teachers and 1,000 students are returning to their classrooms inspired by a deeper, history-based understanding of our country’s founding principles.
We also hosted our first-ever Debate & Leadership Institute for high school students, in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute, and our inaugural Day Camp for middle school students, along with a full calendar of programs for teachers, students, and the community.
And looking ahead to the fall…
Temps may be cooling and days shortening, but we’re not letting up on our efforts to lead the way in civic education.
- Registration is open for fall and spring sessions of our Spirit of America Youth Leadership Program for high school students. This is a great opportunity for your child, grandchild, nephew, or niece to develop their critical thinking and leadership skills while gaining a deeper understanding of their responsibilities as citizens.
- Applications are open for our fall teacher seminars, beginning with Fourteenth Amendment: Origins and Interpretations, September 12-14, so apply now! On October 23, our first-ever one-day seminar at The Union League of Philadelphia, In Their Own Words: The Civil War Soldier Experience, will provide teachers a unique opportunity to learn about the lives of soldiers and their families through letters, diaries, and photographs from the League’s collections.
- We’re also continuing renovations and upgrades on our Valley Forge campus, with work underway for the chapel.
This is just a sampling of our accomplishments and upcoming programs; look for a report on our first 18 months in our soon-to-be-released Honor Roll report and our website.
Summer highlights
Founding Forward’s 2025 Golf Outing & Partee
Our annual golf outing raised more than $600,000 to support our civic education programs! Our deepest thanks to M&T Bank, all of our sponsors, Golf Committee Chair Paul Becker, our foursomes, and volunteers for their support and participation.
Celebrating Valley Forge and our National Parks
Founding Forward staff attended a celebration held by Valley Forge National Historical Park to honor the National Park Service’s birthday and to build momentum toward next year’s America 250 commemoration.
An artful and early completion
The Broad Street hallway of the League House was recently renovated, which called for careful management from Founding Forward of the magnificent artwork on display in the area. All of the artwork was carefully handled during the project and has now returned to its home within this main thoroughfare. The Broad Street hallway serves as a critical piece of the story when Founding Forward shares the history of the League and specifically the development of the League House.
As part of its education mission, Founding Forward helps maintain, restore, preserve the League’s historic locations and stewards its historic collections.
Don’t miss Archives Month Philly!
Visit Founding Forward’s Philadelphia campus for Archive Month Philly! This event, held on October 6, will feature items from our newly acquired collection of materials created by sculptor Jakob Otto Schweizer and a tour of The Union League of Philadelphia. Guests will enjoy a reception with drinks and light refreshments. Registration is required and space is limited – so sign up today!
Jefferson, Adams, Ike, Lincoln, SCOTUS, China, & Buckley: Speaker Programs bring variety to the Fall
Upcoming speakers include authors and panelists representing leading experts and thinkers.
- September 11: Library Hour: Jefferson, Adams, and the Lost Art of Civic Friendship with Monticello President Jane Kamensky
- September 25: Library Hour: Do We Still Like Ike? Eisenhower’s Legacy with Dr. Ronald Granieri, Professor of History in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College
- October 7: Public Affairs: China: Rise of a Superpower, a panel discussion
- October 15: Liberty Series: 21st Century Communism with Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Elizabeth Spalding
- October 28: Liberty Series: Inside the Supreme Court, a panel discussion
- November 4: Public Affairs: Israel & Middle East Update with Founder of the Middle East Forum Daniel Pipes
- November 20: Liberty Series: Buckley at 100 with Charles C.W. Cooke
- November 24: Civil War Round Table: Man and Myth: Sculpting Lincoln with historian and author Harold Holzer.
We’re constantly adding speaker programs: Follow us on social media (@FoundingForward) so you don’t miss out and check the Founding Forward’s speaker program calendar to see all the exciting things happening.