Army Heritage Center Foundation facts for kids
The Army Heritage Center Foundation (AHCF) is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is coordinating a public-private partnership to assist the United States Army to develop the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
The foundation's charter is to ensure construction of two of the center's four facilities and to develop and sustain educational resources and outreach programs. The foundation's other partners include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, local governments, corporations, and private citizens. The foundation originated in 1997 and was incorporated in 1999 as the Military Heritage Foundation. In 2002, after Secretary of the Army Thomas White announced the creation of USAHEC, the foundation assumed the Doing Business As name Army Heritage Center Foundation to reflect its primary focus in building support for this project. In developing the USAHEC, the foundation works with the Army to create a complex that will honor Soldiers and their families; preserves and makes available for study their artifacts, manuscripts, personal papers, photos and art; and fosters a greater awareness of the United States and U.S. Army history.
In 2010, the AHCF completed construction of Phase One of the Visitor and Education Center at USAHEC. The foundation is currently fundraising to build Phase Two, which will house additional gallery space and meeting room spaces. Once the Visitor and Education Center and the Army Heritage Museum are constructed, the foundation will concentrate on providing margin of excellence support to enhance the visitor experience and to develop innovative educational programs. The foundation also offers memberships and commemorative bricks and pavers.
Educational programs
The Education Department develops educational materials based on the holdings of the Army Heritage and Education Center. These materials focus on the contributions of the American Soldier to the history and heritage of the United States and the world. They include CD-ROMs, a book and DVD set entitled Army Nurses of World War One: Service Beyond Expectations, and content on the Education section of the foundation's website.
The Education Department also administers the Robert L. Ruth and Robert C. Ruth Fellowship, a three-week summer internship awarded to a graduate student in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Funding for the award comes from Chris Gleason, a member of the board of directors for the foundation, in honor of the service of two members of his family.
The AHCF honors Russell F. Weigley, a Temple University History Department faculty member from 1930 to 1966 who was considered to be one of the nation's top military historians, with a financial award for the best paper with a military history focus that is presented at the annual Barnes Club Conference in Philadelphia.
The Education Department works with local school districts to build an oral history program to train and assist high school and middle school students and teachers to interview veterans to collect their oral histories.
The Education Director serves as the State Coordinator for National History Day in Pennsylvania.
