Hershey Trust

Hershey Trust Company is a private trust company that serves as the trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust and the M.S. Hershey Foundation. Founded in 1905 by Milton and Catherine Hershey, the company is responsible for managing the assets that fund the Milton Hershey School, a cost-free residential school for children from low-income families. The Trust is a significant institutional investor, most notably maintaining a controlling interest in The Hershey Company, one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers. While not a biotechnology firm, the Trust played a foundational role in the healthcare sector by providing the $50 million endowment used to establish the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at Penn State University. Today, it continues to oversee a multi-billion dollar portfolio to ensure the long-term financial stability of the school and its associated philanthropic missions. The organization operates primarily as a fiduciary and asset manager rather than engaging in direct scientific research or drug development.