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1601 Valley Forge Rd.
P.O. Box 67 Valley Forge, PA 19481-0067
Phone: 610-933-8825 or 800-896-5488 Fax: 610-935-0522
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit us on the Web at
www.freedomsfoundation.org
Annual Report Annual Report Annual Report
July 1, 2014July 1, 2014July 1, 2014———June 30, 2015June 30, 2015June 30, 2015
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Francis C. Brulenski, Chair
Managing Director, Smart Devine
Philadelphia, PA
Christopher M. Rothey
CEO, Radiate Media
Malvern, PA
Michael E. Di Yeso, President & CEO
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
Valley Forge, PA
Wallace Nunn, Treasurer
Former Head, Mid-Atlantic Public Finance Region
Citigroup Global Markets
Philadelphia, PA
Gloria Dahl
Freedoms Foundation Volunteer Chapters
Los Angeles, CA
Sara Drury
Asst. Prof., Rhetoric & Director, Wabash
Democracy & Public Disclosure
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, IN
Charles R. Gerow
President & CEO, Quantum Communications
Harrisburg, PA
Richard S. Griffith
Image API
Newtown, PA
John C. Heenan
Director, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Ivyland, PA
William O. Perry
CEO, Perry Homes
Murray, UT
Jerry D. Poole
President and CEO, Acrometis, LLC
Malvern, PA
Russell K. Schulz
Captain, United States Navy, Ret.
Doylestown, PA
H. Ernest Smith
Principal, TerraForm Companies
Salt Lake City, UT
Rogers Smith
Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor
of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Board of Directors
Fiscal Year Brings
Changes to Board of
Directors
Francis Brulenski
Elected to Lead
Board of Directors
New Board Members
Welcomed
Mr. Francis Brulenski officially
assumed the role of Board Chair
at the annual meeting of Free-
doms Foundation’s Board of Directors on Novem-
ber 6, 2014. Prior to being elected Board Chair,
Mr. Brulenski served as Secretary of the Board and
has been a member of the Board since 2006.
Sara Drury, Ph.D.
Richard Griffith
John Heenan
Jerry Poole
Tribute to Outgoing
Board Members
John M. DiEleuterio 17 years (1998-2015)
Sandy Lipstein 10 years (2005-2015)
E. Gerald Riesenbach 13 years (2002-2015)
Joyce A. Shotick 10 years (2005-2015)
Volunteer Chapter Regional Directors
Glenn Freeman
Marilee Hawkins-Cherry 4 years (2011-2015)
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Financials July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013
ASSETS LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Cash $ 431,437 Capital Lease, Current Portion $ 8,882 Accounts Receivable, Net 24,511 Accrued Expenses 80,361 Bequest Receivable, Net 19,656 Deferred Revenue 21,410 Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets 37,700 Accounts Payable 149,501 Total Current Assets 513,304 Total Current Liabilities $ 260,154 INVESTMENTS 8,152,128 LONG TERM LIABILITIES Capital Lease, Net of Current Portion 9,633 DEFERRED FINANCING FEES 7,506 Accrued Asbestos Removal Liabilities 86,109
REAL ESTATE AND EQUIPMENT
2,383,064
Total Long-Term Liabilities
Total Liabilities
95,772
355,926 BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN PERPETUAL 277,625 TRUST NET ASSETS
Unrestricted $ 6,506,238
Total Assets $ 11,333,627 Temporarily Restricted 672,156
Permanently Restricted 3,799,307
Total Net Assets 10,977,701
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 11,333,627
2015 Revenue: $1,854,105
5% 4% 20% 13%
20% 19%
19%
Investments - $375,539 Organizations - $352,963 Foundations - $348,335 Programs - $375,166 Individuals - $234,653 Estates - $101,377 Corporations—$66,072
2015 Expenses - $1,803,940
7% 15%
15% 63%
Educational Programs $1,128,164
Administrative $274,060
Fund Development $280,069
Awards Program $121,647
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Mr. Wes Cook Mrs. Lenore J. Coon Darvills Ruritan Club DAV Auxiliary, Dept. of MN DAVA Unit 2 DAVA, NE Mr. & Mrs. Donald C. Davidson Mr. Thomas J. Diedrich Mr. J. William Ditter, Jr. Ms. Virginia M. Douglas Ms. Kathleen Duncan Dr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Feulner, Jr. Ms. Patricia Fiedler Mr. Wilbur B. Frable Mr. & Mrs. Bradley Friehe Major Arthur G. Gaetjens Mr. Joseph Garraty Mr. John W. Gaul Ms. Ruth E. Gillett Mr. Ryan Han Ms. Tracy Hardgrove Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Hart Mrs. Glena Haskin Dr. & Mrs. Jerome Heard Mrs. D. Elizabeth Hinkle Mr. Paul Hollandsworth Mr. D. Samuel Inman Ms. Brenda E. Keener Ms. Kay E. Le Doux Ms. Faith E. Leavitt Mrs. Jackie Lett Mr. Steve L. Linder Ms. Marilyn A. Loiacono Ms. Donna Lucas Ms. Dana E. Manigold Ms. Kathryn E. Mason Mr. and Mrs. Byron C. McGregor Dr. and Mrs. L. R. Morgan, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James E. Morrow, Sr. Ms. Mary Munson National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists Mr. & Mrs. Robin & Ed Newman Mrs. Eugene Noneman Mr. Gerald C. Nordskog Ms. Amy L. O'Donnell Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Ormsbee Mrs. Frank L. Ottmers Mr. Mark Paloolian Mr. Mark Piglia Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Ping Mr. Walter W. Pollick, Jr. Mr. Jason Raia Mrs. Ingeborg D. Ratcliff Ms. Maryjo Reed Ms. Beatrice Restifo Mr. Roger Rucker Dr. Borje O. Saxberg Mr. Blair W. Schoeb Mr. and Mrs. Bruce W. Scollin Mrs. Nancy D. Shill Ms. Carol Shipley Dr. & Mrs. David Earl Simmons
Ms. Joyce Skinner Ms. Debora L. Sloane Ms. Ana Maria Sosa Mr. & Mrs. Ursin Stafford Mr. & Mrs. John K. Staheli Mr. John Summers Mr. John Taber Mr. & Mrs. Clark W. Waring Mr. & Mrs Raymond H. Welsh Casey Wernick Mr. and Mrs. Roy H. Whitmire Friend of Freedom ($1-$49) 117 Donors
Estates Estate of James S. Copley Glenn J. Homan Charitable Trust Estate of Marie McIntyre The William E. Smith Trust
In-Kind Gifts Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove PECO IMP Rotary Club of Phoenixville
YOUTH PROGRAM PARTNERS
AMVETS/AMVETS Auxiliary Caterpillar Foundation Freedoms Foundation Volunteer Chapters Bay State New Orleans Broward County Orange County
Chattanooga Pensacola Chase County Sacramento Dallas Area St. Louis Greater Cincinnati San Antonio Jacksonville San Diego Los Angeles County Utah Mary Ball Washington
Military Order of the World Wars National Sojourners Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Pilot International Rotary International District 7450 (PA) Ruritan National Union League of Philadelphia Veterans of Foreign Wars Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is most grateful for the support received from these donors. While every effort has been made to correctly identify donors, please accept our apologies if your name or organization has been misspelled or omitted. If you call the Development Office at 1-800-896-5488, ext. 210 we will
gladly correct our records. If you would like to learn more about how to contribute to Free-doms Foundation at Valley Forge and our programs, please call 610-933-8825 ext. 210 or visit our website at: www.freedomsfoundation.org. The official registration and financial information of Freedoms
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STAFF
President and CEO
Michael E. Di Yeso
Vice President of Education
Jason S.L. Raia
Director of Education
Carolyn Santangelo
Director of Donor Relations
Maureen Troutman
Bookkeeper
Bonnie Anderson
Education Program Coordinator
Kim DeBlase
Table of Contents
Board of Directors .................... 2
President’s Message ................. 3
Volunteer Chapters ................ 6-7
Education .................................. 4
National Awards ....................... 5
Leavey Awards ......................... 5
Supporters
2014 - 2015...................... 8-10
Audited Financials ................. 11
Message from the President
Our country’s freedom ultimately rests
in the hands of its children. Whether
they pass freedom’s torch on to their
own children or allow it to flicker out
depends on whether they understand
what freedom is and what basic values
support it. To ensure this heritage is
kept alive, Freedoms Foundation con-
ducts programs of education and infor-
mation emphasizing the principles un-
derlying the unique freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United
States throughout constitutional form of government.
One of these programs is concerned with educating the educa-
tors—the classroom teachers most responsible for transmitting
our beliefs to our children.
The development of the Medal of Honor Legacy seminar for
teachers during the previous fiscal year led the way to an
astounding 84% increase in teachers enrolled in our graduate
programs during this fiscal year. A total of 134 teachers from
around the country participated in four one-week programs con-
ducted in the summer of 2014. This is a trend we see continu-
ing as we further develop the Medal of Honor Legacy program
and introduce new programs over the next few years.
The implication of this increase far exceeds the teachers them-
selves. Data gathered from these individuals tells us that each
will teach on average 150 students in the coming school year.
These 134 teachers now will impact the lives of more than
20,000 youth in one year alone. As you can see, providing civ-
ics-based professional development programs for our nation’s
educators is an investment in our youth. The future of our
country will depend on whether or not the next generation is
prepared to be informed and engaged citizens.
During this past fiscal year a concentrated effort was made to
broaden the base of financial support for our graduate programs
for teachers. In the spring of 2016 Freedoms Foundation Board
of Directors will embark upon a major fundraising event, with
an established goal to raise enough funds to sponsor the attend-
ance of 300 teachers in 6 one-week graduate programs during
the summer of 2016. We feel confident we will meet this chal-
lenge.
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Education Programs
One hundred and thirty-four teachers attended four
graduate programs offered for teachers in fiscal year
2015 resulting in an 84% increase from the prior
year.
This growth is attributed to the development of the
Medal of Honor Legacy program and our funders.
Programs offered included two Medal of Honor Leg-
acy, Civil War East and Revolution in the Middle
States.
Without support received from the following this
would not have been possible:
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Medal of Honor Foundation
Mr. Wally Nunn
Freedoms Foundation Volunteer Chapters
Expansion of this program will continue in fiscal year
16. Increases in funding will allow us to offer 5 grad-
uate programs for 200 teachers.
David Eisenhower addresses teachers about World War II
at one of the Medal of Honor Legacy programs.
Graduate Programs
Experience Growth
Youth participation in Freedoms Foundation pro-
grams continue to be our largest audience.
Appreciating what an asset this age group would be
to our organization, the process to form a Youth
Advisory Council (YAC) was initiated in November
2014. Freedoms Foundation’s National Youth Ad-
visory Council will be comprised of 12 young peo-
ple, ages 15 to 21, from across the nation.
Some of the critical roles YAC will undertake in-
clude:
3,000
Elementary through high school
students participated in programs
conducted by Freedoms Founda-
Advise National Headquarters on how
best to communicate with youth and
teens in today’s technological world
Advise National Headquarters on
strategies and programs to attract
new youth and teens
Represent Freedoms Foundation
nationally and locally
Adopt projects and major initiatives
that measurably advance YAC’s com-
mitment to Educate, Honor, and
Challenge all youth
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Mrs. John Glenna Bryson Boyd Mr. & Mrs. Michael Budzynski Mr. Francis R. Carroll Mrs. Meredith K. Caskie Ms. Renee Cavanaugh Chase Investment Counsel Corp. Mrs. Marilee Hawkins Cherry Mr. and Mrs. Hal Cochran Ms. Dorothy Connors Ms. Cindy Crouse Miss Estelle Cunningham Mrs.. Gloria Dahl DAV Auxiliary, Grand Prairie Unit 42 DAVA #22 Marquette DAVA, Unit #67 Ms. Ouida W. Dickey Mr. & Mrs. John DiEleuterio Disabled American Veterans Donation Box Dove Properties, LLC COL & Mrs. Harry V. Dutchyshyn, USA (Ret.) Mr. and Mrs. John R. Eckman Ms. Rebecca Edwards Mr. and Mrs. Dean W. Elson Ms. Jane Evans Dr. & Mrs. Alan D. Fegley FFVF Los Angeles County Chapter FFVF New Orleans Chapter Mr. & Mrs. Ralph P. Fiore Mrs. Vivian Fountain Mrs. Zita Gardner Mrs. J. M. Gillman Gold Star Wives of America Mrs. Mirna Gonzalez Great Council of MD Mr. & Mrs. Malcolm B. Greene Ms. Carol T. Gregston Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Gruici Mrs. Martha Rogers Haas Ms. Cecil W. Hannaford Mrs. Evelynne R. Hanson Ms. Ruth I. Harden Mrs. Ruth A. Hilliard Ms. Elizabeth Holmes Mr. Donald L. Hoskins James W. Houlihan, Mr. Richard M. Huey Improved Order of Red Men J. Robert Graham DAV Auxiliary Unit 26 Ms. Linda Johnson LTC Harry M. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Jumps Mr. Joseph Kirlin Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville Ms. Terri Lampe Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Lancaster Mrs. Joy Ledford Mr. & Mrs. Leon L. Levy Little Sandy Creek Ruritan Club Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Loiacono Mrs. Melissa E. Lovelady Mr. & Mrs. John Lynch
Ms. Melissa M. Mangold. Miss Paula F. Maras Col. Walter J. Marm, USA (Ret.) Ms. Toni Martins Mr. & Mrs. Reed G. Matthews Mrs. Lynn McClary Mr. & Mrs. Don McClure Mrs. Jeanne McDonald Mrs. Betty Michalski Mrs. Betty Brown Miller Mr. and Mrs. Frazer Morian Mr. Frederick H. Nusbickel Ocklonoee Council No. 212 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Owens Mr. & Mrs. Lanny R. Patten LTC and Mrs. Robert C. M. Pelletier Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust Mr. Don M. Powers Mrs. M. Marie Robinson Running River Council 25 Dr. Edward M. Scahill Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schlichter Miss Jonell E. Schlund Mr. & Mrs. David E. Shulenburg Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Sies Mr. & Mrs. Chad J. Simmons Mr. Gerald D. Skidmore Mrs. Isabelle Skidmore Mr. Gene Stern Mr. and Mrs. Russell K. Stokes , Jr. Ms. Barbara Sweeney Mr. Henry T. Swigert Mr. Benito Tauro Mr. and Mrs. Donald I. Thiess Col. Erna H. Thompson, USA (Ret) Mr. & Mrs Darren Thornberry Tony Tank Tribe No. 149 Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Troutman Mr. & Mrs. William G.L. Turner Mr. John Vander Zee Mr. D.S. Wampler Mr. Thomas Weikert Mrs. Rosie I. Welz Ms. Carol Willard Col. and Mrs. Richard J. Wright Mr. & Mrs. Tongxin Xie Valley Forge Patriot ($50-$99) ALA, Cooper City Memorial Unit 321 Mr. Eugene Bavis Mr. Michael P. Bennett Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Berndsen Mrs. Maybelle Bishop Mr. Neal E. Bosshardt Mr. & Mrs. John D. Bovee Ms. Barbara J. Brown Mr. Richard D. Brown Mrs. Mildred D. Carter Causecast Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Child Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell A. Ciccarello Mr. Ralph Clemmer
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Supporters 2014-2015
Freedoms Foundation Benefactor ($10,000 plus) Adolph Coors Foundation AMVETS National Auxiliary Aqua Charitable Trust The Boeing Company Boeing Helicopter Company The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Connelly Foundation Mrs. Howard Deshong DSI Realty HD Smith Foundation Mr. & Mrs. John C. Heenan Ms. Suzanne Hooper Lipstein Family Foundation M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Malvern Federal Savings Bank Mrs. Kathleen L. McCarthy Medal of Honor Foundation Mr. Wally Nunn Mrs. Elizabeth S. Pankey Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Jerry D. Poole The Snider Foundation Mrs. Evelyn Rome Tabas
Foundation Partner ($5,000-$9,999) The Armstrong Foundation Mr. Frank Chin The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation Clara Schlichtemeier Charitable Trust Comcast Foundation Freedoms Foundation Broward County Chapter The HBE Foundation Hershel Woody Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Education Foundation Hoxie Harrison Smith Foundation United Way of King County Ida Wolfe Estate
Foundation Patron ($1,000-$4,999) Ms. Marion F. Andrews Ms. Sharyn Bearse Mr. & Mrs. Francis C. Brulenski Crane Foundation Mr. Paul T. Creedon Mrs. Rebecca Cross Dillon Foundation Frank J. Lewis Foundation Mr. Robert W. Garthwait The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Mr. Richard S. Griffith, Jr. Mr. H. Scott Higgins Improved Order of Red Men
Independence Blue Cross Jessie Ball DuPont Fund Junior Amvets Post 49 Mr. & Mrs. Timothy F. Krug Ms. Jessica Donnelly Kyj Mr. Christopher W. McNichol Mr. Richard A. Mulford PECO Energy Company Phoenixville Hospital Medical Staff Mr. & Mrs. Val Romberg Mr. Richard Sias Strake Foundation The Columbus Foundation Travis Manion Foundation United Way of Greater Philadelphia & SNJ Veterans Advantage, Inc. Ben Franklin Associate ($500-$999) Mr. Bruce M. Brown Charles J. Gilland AMVETS Post 172 COL Doris M. Cobb, USA (Ret) Mr. & Mrs. Terry G. Creel Freedoms Foundation Bay State Chapter Mrs. Henry Freede Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove GE Foundation Matching Gifts Program Mr. & Mrs. David Gettings Gilbert W. Nordmann DAVA Unit 6 Holt Logistics Corp. Ms. Constance W. McMillin Mrs. Carolyn McNeal Mr. Michael E. Morris Gen. Douglas V. O'Dell, Jr., USMCR (Ret) Penn City Investments Rotary Club of Phoenixville Capt. & Mrs. Russell K. Schulz, USN, (Ret) Mr. & Mrs. Ronald D. Sortino Mr. John E. Wade
Alexander Hamilton Associate ($100-$499) 7th Engineers Battalion ALA, Department of Florida ALA, Norco Unit 328 Mr. Frank Altiere American Gold Star Mothers Lehigh Valley American Gold Star Mothers North Penn American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 367 AMVETS Post #172 AMVETS Post 6 AMVETS Post No. 136 Ms. Katie G. Anderson Elder M. Russell Ballard Mr. & Mrs. Bernard E. Berlinger, Jr. Ms. Jacqueline Kamm Bigelow Mr.Robert Black , Jr. Mrs. John J. Blair
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge expresses its sincere gratitude to
those whose financial gifts make our important work possible.
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2015 Leavey Awards
National Awards
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, in partnership with the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, will
showcase ___ projects and ___ outstanding entrepreneurial teachers from throughout the United States at the
38th Annual Leavey Awards ceremony on November 14, 2015 in New Orleans. Each program in entrepre-
neurship, selected by an independent panel of business and education leaders, receives $7,500 in recognition
of their creative teaching methods. The jury can select and award $15,000 to a meritorious recipient for an
exceptional project.
Celebrating and Honoring Excellence in Private Enterprise Education
“Better Business: Socially Beneficial Entrepreneurship”
2015 Meritorious Recipient
Jennifer Armocida
Jennifer Armocida leads the Sixth Graders at Rainbow Community School in Asheville, North Carolina in
completing a "Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship" project. The goals of the unit are to teach students fun-
damentals of the economic system, as well as the steps involved in running a small business that benefits the
community. For the project, students start their own small businesses. They identify a need or problem in the
community, develop a mission statement and business plan, and apply for small loans. Students carry out their
businesses - dog walking, pet photography, and candle making to name a few. Additionally, small business
owners from the local community visit the class to talk about starting their businesses. After the completion of
the unit and the open-air marketplace many students continue with their small businesses.
Nearly 400 entries were received from all over the
country with 97% being nominated by Freedoms
Foundation’s Volunteer Chapters. In total, Free-
doms Foundation presented the George Washing-
ton Honor Medal to 72 individuals and organiza-
tions from youth to adults.
Selection of the National Award recipients is made
by the National Awards Jury, an independent panel
comprised of executive officers of national patriot-
ic, educational and service organizations.
The National Awards Program, Freedoms Foun-
dation’s first activity was initiated in 1949 to rec-
ognize and draw attention to those whose positive
words and deeds promote our country’s rich herit-
age and unique freedoms. To date, over 56,000
Americans have been recognized by this prestig-
ious award.
2014 National Awards
Presented by Category
Adult and Youth Community—29
ROTC/JROTC and
Active Military Essays—2
Schools—2
Youth Essays—31
Public Communications—3
Special Events—1
Teacher/Administrator– 1
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Freedoms Foundation Unveils
WILLIAM O. PERRY
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
As a tribute to recognize the commitment to our organization by William
O. Perry, III, Freedoms Foundation Chair Emeritus and long-time propo-
nent of the Volunteer Chapters, the William O. Perry Volunteer of Year
Award was announced in November 2014.
The purpose of this award is to honor one Freedoms Foundation at Valley
Forge Chapter member for their exemplary service and personal commitment to their Chapter and the overall
mission of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in the course of a calendar year.
Criteria for Nomination:
⋆ Nominee(s) must be a current rostered member or friend of in good standing with the Chapter.
⋆ Nominee(s) are individuals who have given a tremendous amount of effective volunteer time on events/
community service activity or displayed significant leadership abilities that promoted the Chapter and the
programs available through the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge (significantly more time than would
ordinarily be spent on a program/event, etc.).
⋆ Nominee(s) have provided effective behind-the-scenes support of the Chapter leadership and initiatives.
⋆ Exemplary citizenship displayed at all Freedoms Foundation Chapter and National events as well as
throughout their community.
Freedoms Foundation Site of
Pennsylvania Gold Star Families Memorial
On September 21, 2014, Freedoms Foundation at Val-
ley Forge formally dedicated the Pennsylvania Gold
Star Families Memorial on its Valley Forge campus.
The Pennsylvania Gold Star Families Memorial hon-
ors all the families across the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania who have lost a fam-
ily member serving under our Flag.
This is only the 2nd Memorial of
its kind in the Nation.
The Gold Star Family Memorial
concept was the vision of Medal of
Honor Recipient, Hershel
“Woody” Williams. Through his
efforts the first memorial was dedi-
cated in West Virginia in 2013 and
with his assistance and that of gen-
erous benefactors, the Pennsylva-
nia Gold Star Families Memorial
became a reality.
Donors of $5,000 or more to the project included:
Aqua America, CSL Bearing, Mr. & Mrs. John Hee-
nan, Mrs. Suzanne Hooper, the Lipstein Family Foun-
dation, Mr. & Mrs. Wally Nunn, and the Woody Wil-
liam Medal of Honor Foundation.
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Volunteer Chapters
Diane Deshong Named
Spirit of 76 Award Recipient
On October 30, 2014, Mrs. Diane Deshong of the Los Angeles County Chapter of
Freedoms Foundation was recognized as the 2014 “Spirit of ‘76” National Award
recipient during the Chapter’s annual awards ceremony. National board member
and chair of the chapter affairs committee, Ernie Smith, presented the award to
Mrs. Deshong on behalf of Freedoms Foundation. The “Spirit of 76” Award was
created to honor Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge individual chapter members
for their exemplary service to Freedoms Foundation, their Chapter, and other charities in their community.
Mrs. Diane Deshong of Beverly Hills, California is a trustee of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at
Sunnylands. She is the daughter of the late Leonore Annenberg, former U.S. Chief of Protocol for President
Ronald Reagan, and step-daughter of the late Walter Annenberg, who served as the United States Ambassador
to the Court of St. James’s during the Nixon administration. After graduating from the University of Pennsylva-
nia with degrees in history and political science, she worked in the newsroom for Philadelphia’s WFIL-TV and
as an advertising copywriter for Doubleday Publishing in New York. She also worked in public relations and as
an assistant photo editor for TV Guide. In addition to her service at Sunnylands, Mrs. Deshong is an active
community volunteer, serving on the board of the Assistance League of Los Angeles and the Freedoms Founda-
tion of Valley Forge, where she just concluded a term as president of the Los Angeles County Chapter.
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Grants Charter to the
Newly Formed Tri-State Southeastern, TN Chapter
On August 14, 2014 Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge officially chartered the Tri-state Southeastern Chap-
ter of Tennessee and now joins the 27 other chapters located throughout the United States. Chris McSpadden
(far right) was elected to serve as the chapter’s first president. Michael Brown (center of picture) was the first
student sponsored by the Chapter to attend a Spring 2015 Spirit of America Youth Leadership Program in Val-
ley Forge, PA and was recognized at a luncheon the Chapter held in his honor.
