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Draft:American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF)

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American Heritage Education Foundation

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The American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF) is a 501(c)(3)[1] nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas, dedicated to the research, teaching, and understanding of America’s founding principles, history, and heritage through educational resources and programs. Established in 1994, AHEF offers free, award-winning K-12 lesson plans to strengthen Americans’ civic identity. AHEF also offers unique educational resources on America’s founding political philosophy, with special attention to the historical influence of religious and moral values on this philosophical ethic. AHEF aims to foster civic awareness, knowledge, and patriotism among students and the general public.

History

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Founded in 1994 by educators and civic leaders, the American Heritage Education Foundation began as an effort to create educational materials that promote historical understanding and civic awareness. Initially, AHEF focused on providing K-12 resources, particularly on foundational documents of the United States. The foundation began by distributing print lesson plans directly to teachers and schools across the U.S., promoting the study of constitutional values and principles.

Over the years, AHEF's curriculum gained visibility through partnerships with schools and educational organizations. In 2014, AHEF published The Miracle of America: The Influence of the Bible on the Founding History and Principles of the United States of America for a People of Every Belief[2], written by AHEF President Angela E. Kamrath. This work explores religious influences on American political philosophy and is accompanied by a blog of supplementary essays and resources.

Digital Presence

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In response to increasing digital access in classrooms, AHEF expanded its materials to online formats in the 2010s. The organization’s website offers free lesson plans, articles, and videos, extending AHEF’s resources to educators and homeschooling families nationwide. Recent initiatives include online workshops and webinars aimed at equipping teachers with tools for incorporating civics and history into curricula.

Mission

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The mission of AHEF is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s foundational principles and heritage by providing high-quality educational resources to teachers, students, and communities.

Notable Programs

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AHEF’s programs and publications aim to support the teaching of American social studies, history, and civics in a way that strengthens American civic identity and improves knowledge about the historical influences, including religious and philosophical perspectives, on the American idea, system of government, and society.

  • Lesson Plans: AHEF provides K-12 lesson plans focusing on foundational U.S. history and civics topics. Key subjects include the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and American symbols.
  • Educational Texts: The Miracle of America, a comprehensive text exploring the Bible’s influence on American founding principles, is AHEF’s flagship publication.
  • Teacher Workshops: AHEF hosts workshops to provide instructional strategies for teaching American history and civics.
  • Online Resources: AHEF’s digital offerings include videos, essays, and supplemental lesson plans, supporting teachers and students in remote and hybrid learning environments.

Awards and Recognitions

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  • 1993 – 2014: Ongoing recognition by Houston Independent School District for the joint establishment of American Heritage Month[3], celebrated each November with recognition by the City of Houston, Texas.
  • 1993: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Good Citizenship Medal awarded to Dr. Richard J. Gonzalez and Mrs. Jeannie Kamrath Gonzalez for notable services in support of American principles.
  • 2002: Graphic Excellence Award from Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast and the Printing & Imaging Association of Mid-America for America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty.
  • 2004: Houston Independent School District Inaugural American Heritage Month Exemplary Citizenship Award presented to Eugenie Gonzalez[4] for her contributions to American Heritage Month and the community.
  • 2008: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Distinguished Patriot Award presented to Mr. Jack Kamrath[5] for leadership in preserving America’s heritage and teaching citizenship.
  • 2011: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Mary Smith Lockwood Medal for Education awarded to Eugenie Gonzalez[6] for outstanding educational achievement.
  • 2017: Homeschool Base’s Top 10 Best Education Websites of 2017[7], nominated for providing exemplary educational resources.

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (2013-05-09). "American Heritage Education Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2024-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ The Miracle of America | Kirkus Reviews.
  3. ^ White, B. (2004, October 28). American Heritage Month Proclamation. City of Houston. Retrieved from https://americanheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/American_Heritage_Month_Proc_2004.pdf
  4. ^ "Eugenie Gonzalez Obituary (1912 - 2018) - Houston, TX - Houston Chronicle". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  5. ^ Appleby, D. N. (Publisher), & Vest, S. M. (Ed.). (2008). Texan Jack Kamrath honored. SAR Magazine: Sons of the American Revolution, 103(2), 29.
  6. ^ Marketing 256, Social Media. "AHEF Co-Founder Eugenie Sampson Kamrath Gonzalez Wins Daughters of the American Revolution Award". PRLog. Retrieved 2024-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Top 10 Educational Websites of 2017 - History, Music, Art, Foreign Language". Homeschool Base. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
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