On this Giving Tuesday, I hope you will stand with our community of Heroes for History. Your gift—doubled by the Board match—will help protect our shared heritage and give students a chance to discover the power of history. Thank you for being a Hero for History, and thank you for helping to keep Pennsylvania’s stories alive for years to come.

Think back to the moment when history first came alive for you. Maybe it was a school trip, a family story, or a place that helped you see the past in a whole new way. That spark—the feeling that history is real, human, and full of lessons—is something that stays with us. Today, on Giving Tuesday, you can help share that spark with students and families across Pennsylvania.

Across our state, history lives in small towns, city blocks, old buildings, and stories passed down through generations. But these stories are fragile. As time passes, villages shrink, buildings age, and memories fade. Many young people are losing their connection to the past. A national survey showed that only 13% of 8th-grade students understand basic American history. Without help, the lessons that shaped us—and the pride we feel in our communities—may disappear.

Your generosity can change that. When you support the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, you help preserve stories that would otherwise be lost. And you help young people understand the past through scholarships, internships, and hands-on programs that give them a chance to explore Pennsylvania’s heritage up close. Your gift helps make history real for them, just like someone once did for you.

Today, your support matters even more. Our Board of Directors will match your Giving Tuesday gift dollar for dollar, up to $4,500, which means you can double the number of students we reach, double the stories we save, and double the impact of every dollar you give. This match is a powerful way to protect our shared history—and it only happens today.

History has shaped every part of our lives: our families, our communities, and the places we call home. And now, because of caring people like you, we can pass those stories on to the next generation. You are part of a community that believes history is worth preserving. Your kindness keeps these stories alive, and your support helps ensure that young people understand the past so they can build a better future.

P.S. Your gift shows that you believe history matters – and you’re committed to standing up for it.  We must understand our past to build our future. This lesson must reach the young people who will lead us forward. Your generosity will help today’s youth keep history alive in their hearts, and add their own stories to it. And the Board will double your impact! Thank you for being a Hero for History!