Foundation for Free Enterprise Education

1. Educate students about the American Free Enterprise System and their role in it.
2. Provide an environment for students to examine different career paths.
3. Provide extensive training on business financial statements, management issues, business ethics, etc.
4. Allow students the opportunity to meet and work with business leaders from all regions of Pennsylvania.
5. Address effective workforce development by opening participants' eyes to Pennsylvania careers.

PFEW excites students about free enterprise, teamwork, finance, advertising and giving back. Many graduates state that they have leadership and communication skills they never tapped into before. Most students tell us they have learned more during their week than they have in a classroom for an entire year. Students are mentored by volunteer business executives and encouraged to unleash skills and potential talents hidden until PFEW. Because students are not grouped with friends, classmates or even others from their area, they are free to be the best they can be and not hold back on ideas, talents, skills, etc. The number of adults willing to give of their time, talent and sponsorship to help these students learn about free enterprise always has a lasting impression on them. PFEW graduates not only stay in school but a large majority go on to college. Graduates are also awarded scholarships from our host colleges should they choose to attend one of those colleges.

PFEW seeks to provide Pennsylvania's high school youth with education that they cannot receive elsewhere. Some of PFEW's educational goals are to:
1. Educate students about the American Free Enterprise System and their role in it.
2. Provide an environment for students to examine different career paths.
3. Provide extensive training on business financial statements, management issues, business ethics, etc.
4. Allow students the opportunity to meet and work with business leaders from all regions of Pennsylvania.
5. Address effective workforce development by opening participants' eyes to Pennsylvania careers.

Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week has from its start filled what many see as a gap in public schooling. The State Board of Education does not require training in economics. Although most school districts offer economics courses, they are typically a one-semester elective and most students still graduate from high school with little or no economic education.

Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week provides a practical, hands-on experience, not found in any other business education program. PFEW offers this unique opportunity to all interested Pennsylvania high school sophomores or juniors. Minority students are strongly encouraged to apply for this program. The high school principal endorses his/her students and the final selection, based on funding in that area, is made by the PFEW staff.

Over 2,100 students and 250 business executives from across the Commonwealth now participate in the program each year. To date, nearly 46,000 young Pennsylvanians have benefited from this unique concept in economic education and, in 1987, PFEW was the proud recipient of the Freedom's Foundation of Valley Forge's National Award for Excellence in Economic Education.