Milton Hershey School Breaks Ground at Newly Announced Founders Grove

Residential Development Marks Next Phase for Hershey West End

HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Milton Hershey School (MHS), as steward of MHS Trust Real Estate, today broke ground on Phase J of the Hershey West End development project. The planned 138 for-sale units, representing an initial phase of development, will be named Founders Grove, continuing the community-building legacy of Milton S. Hershey.

"Founders Grove marks an exciting milestone as the first residential development in Derry Township in decades," said MHS President Peter G. Gurt. "As stewards of Mr. Hershey's legacy, we take seriously our responsibility to get this right, while creating new opportunities for families to call Hershey home in a way that would make our founders proud."

This beginning phase will occupy 12 acres of Hershey West End. Homes will be built with Colonial and Victorian architecture to match the Hershey community aesthetic established during Milton S. Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" in the 1930s. Hankin Group, a Pennsylvania family-owned real estate company, will serve as partners in this joint venture with MHS.

"This project is a testament to the shared values and continued collaboration between Derry Township and Milton Hershey School. Hershey West End and now Founders Grove are proof of what can be achieved when the community comes together," said Bob Hankin, president and CEO of Hankin Group.

MHS assumed leadership of the Hershey West End project with an updated proposal in 2025. To date, Hershey West End includes Hershey Inn & Suites, a hotel owned and operated by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Englewood Hershey, a hospitality venue and cafe, The Farmers Market in Hershey, U-Gro daycare center, Hershey Center for Applied Research, and McQuaid Blasko Law Offices.

Updates on Founders Grove news, construction, and available homes can be found on hersheywestend.com.

"As we celebrate the founding of Milton Hershey School 117 years ago next week, Hershey West End demonstrates the school's central role within and commitment to the broader Hershey community," Gurt said. 

ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School is one of the world's best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus and receive an exceptional educational experience—with all costs covered. For more information, visit mhskids.org.

ABOUT HANKIN GROUP
Located in Exton, Pennsylvania, Hankin Group is a full-service, family-owned real estate company that designs, develops, and manages residential and commercial properties. To learn about Hankin Group and its projects, visit www.hankingroup.com.

SOURCE Milton Hershey School