Founding Forward

Our 2025 Spirit of America Youth Leadership Programs for high school students are now accepting applications!! These four-day programs will run from February through July with multiple sessions each month. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply so they can participate in a fun, immersive civic education experience at our historic Valley Forge campus. Students experience mock congressional debates, participate in a free enterprise challenge, and visit historic sites while developing critical thinking and leadership skills. Participants leave with a better understanding of how they can contribute to society in the future, as well as new, lasting friendships with peers across the country. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gwKDs_dq #CivicEducation #HighSchool #LeadershipSkills

National Civics Day, held annually on the anniversary of the 1787 publication of the Federalist Papers, celebrates the importance of civic education across America. The Federalist Papers formed the philosophical basis for America’s Constitution, shaping the principles behind our rights and responsibilities as Americans. Founding Forward is dedicated to educating as many people as possible on those principles through immersive, transformative experiences. A recent alumnus of our student programs, Kristen Ogogo, said, “I was amazed by how much history I had the honor to be in the presence of. The people that I met nurtured my curiosity and love for government and law. I met friends that I had so much in common with and I made memories with them that will last me for a lifetime.” Educator Candelle Richman, a participant in our teacher programs, described the experience as “the ultimate immersive learning opportunity, getting the chance to touch history and walk in the footsteps of those who came before us.” As we reflect on the importance of civic education, we are grateful for our donors, our volunteer chapters, and all who support our work. #CivicEducation #History #NationalCivicsDay

Our next Speaker Program presentation, Liberty Series: The Latest at the Supreme Court, will feature a moderated discussion analyzing the precedent-setting Supreme Court decisions of the 2023-2024 session and previewing what is on the docket. Michael Moreland, Director of Villanova’s Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law and Religion, will moderate the discussion between Will Creeley, Legal Director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and Robert Corn-Revere, Chief Counsel at Fire. Highlights will include U.S. vs Rahimi, which affirmed that people who pose a credible threat to the safety of others may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment; questions of presidential immunity; and the overturning of the Chevron deference. This program will be hosted in person on October 28 at The Union League of Philadelphia – 140 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Join us for a reception with our panelists at 6pm, followed by the presentation at 6:30pm. Registration is required. Please pre-register through this link to attend: https://lnkd.in/ePRqTJW5

The Rival Golf Classic at the Upper Montclair Country Club recently recognized Founding Forward Trustee Gary Dorshimer as their 2024 Lifetime Achievement Honoree. The event included a Founding Forward foursome comprised of Gary Dorshimer, Union League President Harry Hill, Founding Forward Trustee Jeff Denton, and Louis Scaglione. They were matched with Fred Barnett, a past NFL wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. Special thanks to Founding Forward Trustee Will Abele for his support and sponsorship of this event, as well as Union League member Jason Stewart, VP of Keurig Dr Pepper, who was the main sponsor of the event.

“Our energy systems are evolving but challenged by a variety of issues, so it calls into question our domestic as well as international policy goals … How the United States will meet those challenges but also be a leader are the big questions our panelists are going to answer.” That’s how moderator Richard Mroz of Archer Public Affairs introduced our Speaker Program, Energy Markets and National Security.” This is just one example of the many intriguing public affairs, current events, and history topics presented by experts, scholars, and thought leaders through our Speaker Program. Check out our calendar to attend future Speaker Programs: https://lnkd.in/egYxdgQ4 #EnergyPolicy #PublicAffairs #RenewableEnergy

On this date in 1949, Freedoms Foundation, a predecessor of Founding Forward, selected historic Valley Forge as its location. Freedoms Foundation co-founder and business leader E.F. Hutton presented a former dairy barn and surrounding land to Freedoms Foundation. Adjacent to Valley Forge National Park, it is now Founding Forward’s 75-acre Valley Forge campus, an important part of our unique ability to teach history-based civics in an immersive setting. Valley Forge is the setting for our residential student programs, including the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Program, Service Learning in Public Policy, and History Encounters. Renovations to the campus will enable us to expand those programs to reach even more future leaders. The Valley Forge campus also includes our Medal of Honor Grove, which recognizes each of the 3,500+ Americans who have received our nation’s highest honor for valor in combat. https://lnkd.in/gfp6dUyw #ValleyForge #CivicEducation #History #MedalofHonor

An understanding of our country’s founding principles is more important now than ever before. Founding Forward’s transformative residential civic education programs enables students to understand, appreciate, and practice the principles, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship, and empowers educators to incorporate these vital concepts into their classrooms. Join us in our important work by sponsoring a student ($50 per month/$600 per year) or a teacher ($100 per month/$1,200 per year) today. https://ow.ly/nPme50TPY8w

Our October 23 Civil War Round Table Speaker Program presents Mail during the Civil War: Delivered under Fire. Join award-winning author Candice Shy Hooper to learn about Civil War postal agent Absalom Markland, who sustained the Union Army's morale by transporting countless letters between soldiers and their families. This program will be hosted in person at The Union League of Philadelphia with a reception and opportunity to meet the author at 6 pm, followed by the presentation at 6:30pm (140 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102). Pre-registration is required. https://lnkd.in/gAbkpSYh #CivilWar #History

Meet our constitutional experts - Dr. Graham Lee, Dr. Bruce Murphy, and Ted Baker, who led today's Spirit of America Freedom Summit on our Valley Forge campus. The Freedom Summit is an interactive mock congressional forum where students learn to debate and revise legislation while consulting the U.S. Constitution. Graham, Bruce, and Ted have been tremendous friends and partners of Founding Forward, and we are grateful for their time and dedication to teaching our rising leaders. #FoundingForward #USConstitution #ValleyForge

We are pleased to welcome 46 students to our Valley Forge campus in Pennsylvania for 4 immersive days of transformative experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Our interactive Spirit of America Youth Leadership program allows high school students the opportunity to engage in mock congressional debates, a free enterprise challenge, and visit historic sites while developing critical thinking and leadership skills. #CivicEducation #ValleyForge #SpiritOfAmerica