Check out the latest from Founding Forward!
Highlights for this issue:
- Wreaths Across the Grove, December 13
- 2026 student opportunities start in February
- 2026 teacher seminars – our biggest year yet
- Speaker programs return in January
- Help us do more this Giving Tuesday…
Start your holiday celebrations with a special Wreaths Across the Grove event
Join Founding Forward, the Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove, and hundreds of community members on December 13 for our annual Wreaths Across the Grove Eventat Founding Forward’s Medal of Honor Grove, located on our Valley Forge campus. Help us remember the fallen and pay tribute to the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients with a short program and wreath laying ceremony.
The event is free and open to the public. Please register by December 6.
2026 Student Programs
We have an incredible line-up for our 2026 teacher seminars! Our week-long and three-The 2026 Spirit of America Youth Leadership programs are the perfect opportunity for high school students looking to gain leadership skills and insights that will last a lifetime. This transformational program includes mock congressional debates, free enterprise exercises, visits to historic sites, and experiences and friendships they’ll never forget. Apply today for the 2026 programs.
More student opportunities are available, including:
Details on additional 2026 summer student opportunities will be coming to our website soon. Don’t miss these exclusive Founding Forward experiences!
Debate & Leadership Institute, for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students, will again be hosted and presented in partnership with The Bill of Rights Institute July 20-24. Apply now for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to strengthen debate skills and deepen civic knowledge.
2026 Teacher Seminars
Founding Forward’s 2026 teacher seminars kick off with a three-day look at Lincoln, Douglass, Slavery, and Future of American Self-Government on January 16-18. Then, Republic to Ruin: Shakespeare and Rome, February 13-February 16, will deepen educators’ understanding of the Roman Republic and its influence on America’s Founding Fathers.
2026 will bring our biggest line up ever for summer teacher professional development opportunities, including four seminars designed to give educators tools and insights to engage students in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to focus on our country’s 250th anniversary. We have a total of 14 summer seminars, ranging from suffrage to Vietnam.
Learn more about our 2026 opportunities. Apply today!
The New Year brings a new slate of speaker programs
Speaker programs are an excellent way to learn and stay informed on timely topics. After the holidays, our speaker programs will return with more engaging topics and content, including:
- January 15: Public Affairs: H.R. McMaster in the Trump White House with H.R. McMaster at Union League Liberty Hill
- January 20: Library Hour: Jefferson vs. Hamilton: The Pursuit of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen at the Union League of Philadelphia
- January 27: Library Hour: Truman and the Atomic Bomb with Ted Aldrichat the Union League of Philadelphia
- March 4: Library Hour: The War for Middle Earth: JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and WWII with Joseph LoConte at the Union League of Philadelphia
Speaker programs are always being added to the schedule. Follow us on social media (@FoundingForward) to not miss out and check the Founding Forward’s speaker program calendar to see all the exciting things happening. If attending in person, attendance is free, but registration is required. If you can’t be there in person, you can still follow along on our YouTube channel.
Support Founding Forward this Giving Tuesday
At Founding Forward, we don’t teach civics to raise test scores; we teach civics to raise citizens. We do it one student, one classroom, one teacher, one program at a time. Make your donation today to help equip students and teachers with the tools, knowledge, and experiences to become active, thoughtful, and informed citizens.
A reminder of smart ways of giving:
- Required Minimum Distribution: for those with an IRA and 70.5 and older are required to take a minimum withdrawal. If you donate that to a charity instead, you can receive additional tax benefits.
- Gifts of Appreciated Securities: donating appreciated assets like stocks or mutual funds that have increased in value can be a major tax benefit. You may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and receive the tax deduction for the full fair market value.
- Please consult your tax advisor on the best options for your giving.
All gifts postmarked or made online by midnight on December 31 will be gratefully acknowledged as tax-deductible contributions for the 2025 tax year.