Informed Patriots Like You
You understand that education is the best way to defend liberty and protect our American way of life for the long term. Read on to hear the stories of others who understand this same truth.
These intelligent patriots support Hillsdale College because they know learning, character, faith, and freedom will preserve the principles that made our country so great and so free for years to come. And they stand with Hillsdale to support our independence from EVERY PENNY of government funding—even indirectly in the form of student loans or grants.
We are deeply grateful for faithful friends like these—and for YOU!
S. Prestley and Helen Blake
The Blake Center for Faith and Freedom is a satellite campus of Hillsdale College in Somers, Connecticut, founded in 2020. When you visit, you can hear from speakers who discuss one of our country’s most essential principles—religious liberty.
This important outpost of our mission to defend religious liberty is named in honor of S. Prestley “Pres” and Helen Blake. After learning about us through our free online courses, Pres and Helen donated this beautiful property to Hillsdale in 2019.
The property’s crown jewel is a replica of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. This beautiful home features the Jefferson Library, a collection of rare and antique books organized according to the same system Jefferson would have used in his Monticello.
Read more of the Blakes' story
Pres founded the Friendly Ice Cream Company in 1935 with his brother Curtis. They grew it into a thriving restaurant business with locations across the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Pres sold Friendly’s in 1979.
Over the years, Pres transformed “a field and some trees” into a beautiful pastoral setting, says Helen. His passion for landscaping and construction projects continued well into his 90s. He loved architecture, and at 98, he decided to build a replica of Monticello.
Helen earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Bates College and Springfield University, respectively, and taught middle school algebra. She has served as a trustee for many non-profit organizations and supported her husband’s many endeavors. Together, they created what President Arnn describes as “paradise.”
Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn and Hillsdale Provost Christopher VanOrman awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree to Pres and Helen Blake in February 2020 at a Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar in Naples, Florida.
Pres passed away in 2021 at the age of 106. Today, his legacy continues to live on through the Blake Center. Describing his relationship with Hillsdale, his stepdaughter, Susan Abello, said, “Hillsdale’s mission and Pres’ mission went hand in hand…He recognized that that’s where he should focus because of what was happening in the country.”
Don Davis
Don Davis is passionate about free-market economics and helping others achieve financial independence. He has been able to promote both with his support for Hillsdale College.
Today, Don has shared his knowledge of free-market economics with thousands of people at Hillsdale College Freedom Forums over the last 20 years. His service to our country did not begin with his support and friendship with the College. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard for eleven years and continues to support military veterans and others through ongoing volunteer work.
Read more of Don's Story
Like many of our supporters—maybe including you—Don Davis has a special interest in history, particularly World War II. He is concerned about how young Americans look more to sports and entertainment for role models rather than to the heroes of World War II and the great men and women of history.
One of the ways Don serves Hillsdale’s work to teach all who wish to learn is by signing up subscribers for Imprimis. He began reading our free digest of liberty when circulation was only 100,000. Now, its readership exceeds 6,700,000.
Don also supports Hillsdale College through his IRA and by funding a scholarship, which helps maintain Hillsdale’s freedom from all taxpayer funding and government interference in what the College teaches and who it hires.
“Our Founding Fathers knew that education—and an educated populace—were needed to preserve our Republic. Hillsdale is the only college today that’s really fighting for America.”
—Don Davis
“Our Founding Fathers knew that education—and an educated populace—were needed to preserve our Republic. Hillsdale is the only college today that’s really fighting for America.”
—Don Davis
Howard Shaw
A friend recommended Imprimis—and, by extension, Hillsdale College—to Howard Shaw more than 40 years ago. Since then, he has become a regular attendee of Hillsdale events, an avid reader of Hillsdale publications, and a frequent correspondent with members of the Hillsdale community, including President Larry P. Arnn.
President Arnn said this of Shaw, “In war and peace and for his whole life, Howard has been a man of principle and duty. I have had the privilege of knowing him for 20 years, and I know no finer citizen and friend.”
Read more of Howard's story
Howard Shaw received his degree from Denison University, served in the Air Force, and started a successful builders’ hardware manufacturing company in California. He attended, among many other Hillsdale events, the 150th anniversary celebration in 1994 and the Winston Churchill statue dedication in 2004. Howard also volunteered his time to inform attendees of an investment conference about Hillsdale and signed them up for Imprimis.
Retirement has not slowed down Howard’s dedication to defending liberty through education. He was an original donor to the Eagle Scout Scholarship in 2005, and he established several gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts to benefit the College and his family. Hillsdale recognized his generosity with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree in 2001.
“To me, Hillsdale is an oasis of clear thinking in a barren desert of nonsense.”
—Howard Shaw
Kevin Kehoe and the Kehoe Family Foundation
Kevin Kehoe first learned about Hillsdale in June 2020 when he read a statement issued by President Arnn in response to criticisms of the College. “He spoke of cheap virtue and jumping on bandwagons,” Kevin recalled. “It was brilliant. I liked what he wrote, and ‘These are good people. Let me find out about them.’”
Read more of Kevin's story
Kehoe grew up in New York as the eldest of six children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the State University of New York—Stony Brook, an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and a master’s degree in international finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. He started his own business in 1990 after some experience at the consulting firm Coopers & Lybrand and has worked for himself ever since.
Kevin established the Kehoe Family Foundation with the proceeds from the sale of one of his software companies. The Foundation focuses on education, cancer patients, and veterans returning to civilian life.
The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence at Hillsdale College represents the Foundation’s first philanthropic venture. Kehoe was eager to get involved once he heard about the plan to launch a program supporting students with entrepreneurial aspirations.
Each student in the program receives a $10,000 scholarship throughout the program, attends various seminars and workshops, and learns from experienced professionals through the Kehoe Initiative Speaker Series.
When asked why he established this particular legacy, Kevin said: “Of all the College initiatives I learned about, this one seemed just right. Education and entrepreneurialism are what I’ve done my whole life, and to be able to share that with Hillsdale’s young men and women is a great thing.”
“To me, Hillsdale is an oasis of clear thinking in a barren desert of nonsense.”
—Howard Shaw
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