The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) has been awarded a grant from the Donald and Paula Smith Family Foundation to support the expansion of FEE’s life-changing One-Day Seminars. Already a leader in educating young people about the economic, legal, and political principles of a free society, FEE is now expanding our One-Day Seminars to 200 events annually by the end of 2021 in order to engage and inspire 30,000 high school students with the ideals of economic freedom, individual liberty, and personal character.
“We could not be more grateful for the support of the Donald and Paula Smith Family Foundation,” said Lawrence Reed, President of FEE. “It is a privilege to have the backing of a philanthropic organization that believes so deeply in the principles of free markets and strong, moral character. The Smith Family Foundation has been a close friend of FEE for years, and their generosity will allow us to quickly scale our educational seminars when they are needed more than ever.”
FEE will reach students at an unprecedented level—and play a critical role in inspiring the next generation with a “worldview of freedom.”
In a time when high school students are taught to revere socialism and scorn the ideas of liberty, it is crucial they are provided with the facts about economic freedom—and the prosperity it ultimately brings for all. FEE’s rapid, three-year, nationwide growth of our One-Day Seminars will accomplish exactly that.
Each One-Day Seminar provides 75-150 high school students with a powerful, in-person introduction to free-market economics, entrepreneurship, individual liberty, and personal character. Through the exponential growth of this unique program to 200 One-Day Seminars annually by 2021, FEE will reach students at an unprecedented level—and play a critical role in inspiring the next generation with a “worldview of freedom.”
“Teaching today’s young people the humane ideas of free markets is the ultimate means to preserving liberty for future generations,” said Richard Lorenc, FEE’s Executive Vice President.
By instilling these principles at a young age, we can halt the spread of the destructive ideas of socialism that limit human progress and potential. FEE’s One-Day Seminars introduce students to a positive, humane worldview that we believe will impact their lives both today and for the rest of their lives.
Historically, it has been difficult for many students—particularly those in low-income, inner-city, and extreme-rural communities—to attend educational enrichment programs outside of their home areas. During the school year, travel can be costly and school schedules are rigorous, both of which prevent many eager students from expanding their horizons through extracurricular educational opportunities. FEE’s One-Day High School Seminars address this gap in programming and provide opportunities for underserved high school audiences to be introduced to FEE’s message by meeting students “where they are,” both physically (in the classroom) and intellectually (new to the principles of a free society).
“30,000 One-Day Seminar students by the end of 2021 is an ambitious goal,” said Jason Riddle, FEE’s Vice President of Programs & Strategic Operations.
But the success we have seen the past few years with our One-Day Seminars in opening the eyes of high school students to the ideas of liberty has proven to us that we must grow these programs to reach as many students as possible—particularly those who have never before heard the ideas of free-market economics or realized the value of cultivating high personal character.
The generous support of the Donald and Paula Smith Family Foundation is invaluable to growing FEE’s life-changing One-Day Seminars and making these educational opportunities available to over 30,000 students in the coming years.
FEE has been a leading non-profit organization in teaching the principles of a free society since its founding in 1946 by Leonard E. Read. Today, FEE focuses on introducing freedom as a life philosophy to young newcomers, striving to bring about a world in which the economic, ethical and legal principles of a free society are familiar, credible, and compelling to the next generation. FEE produces the annual FEEcon event, student seminars, free online courses, classroom resources, and engaging classic and contemporary content available at FEE.org and on social media. FEE is supported solely by contributions from individuals, private foundations, and businesses and by the sale of our publications. We invite you to advance liberty with us at FEE.org.
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education, founded 1946, works for a free and prosperous world.