Tribute of Honor to Andrew (Andy) Delaney, 1920-2007.
America is a stronger, better place due to the many worthwhile, patriotic contributions of Andrew Delaney.  Delaney was active in the community and a generous supporter of AHEF.  Thank you for all you've done for AHEF and the nation!

"It's just critical that if we are going to survive as a nation, that all our citizens know and understand the fundamental beliefs that caused the formation of this country and stand at the bottom, the bedrock foundation, for the things in which we most strongly believe.  So you have to start at the beginning--and that means the Declaration of Independence."

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, U. S Supreme Court

"When we think about the country and how it started and why it started, we look first to the Declaration of Independence.  It has been an enduring and remarkable document and is the precursor and the foundation for the adoption of our constitutional form of government."

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, U. S Supreme Court

"The Declaration of Independence became a sacred icon (of America) because it was the only national document and is the only national document that states that 'All men are created equal and that they have certain, inherent rights given to them by their Creator.'  These words are not in the Constitution or in the Bill of Rights.  The only national document that states them is the Declaration of Independence."

Paula Maier,
Mass. Inst. of Technology

About AHEF

Our Mission
Founders and Board of Directors
Staff Bios and Essays by Dr. Richard Gonzalez, Co-Founder
Our Philosophy
Our History

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Our Mission

AHEF is a non-profit, non-partisan educational group  (501.c.3) dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens.

AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission by providing educational resources and programs for educators, students, and citizens nation-wide and world-wide through creative initiatives and partnerships.

AHEF is inclusive of individuals of every race and creed and every religious or non-religious persuasion.

                                                                                 
 

Founders
Dr. & Mrs. Richard J. Gonzalez
Mr. John R. (Jack) Kamrath

Board of Directors
John R. Butler, Jr.
Eugenie "Jeannie" Sampson Kamrath Gonzalez
Angela Kamrath
Jack Kamrath, President
Peter Maffitt
Doug McMurrey
Robert C. McNair
Dr. Mike Owens, Director of Education
James Roeder
Dr. Linus Wright
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Dr. Roderick R. Paige, Advisory Director
Carol S. Vance, Advisory Director
                                                                                                                                

Staff Biographies
Essays by Co-Founder Dr. Richard Gonzalez
 

Our Philosophy

Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility (FUPR™) are central themes in America's heritage that generations of Americans from diverse backgrounds have embraced for over two centuries. While diversity has always contributed to the strength of our republic, the recent focus on what sets us apart rather than on what binds us together clearly tends to divide and weaken our nation. The effort in our schools to celebrate diversity for diversity's sake without a corresponding understanding that diverse peoples are only one part of our national character will result in a 'house divided' with potentially catastrophic social, cultural, and economic division.

AHEF believes that the concepts and themes of our American heritage must be objectively studied and continually improved for today's students and citizens to understand, appreciate, and perpetuate the ongoing miracle of our unique republic of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Through a renewed study and understanding of historical events, founding documents, national symbols, and significant individuals, students can better understand the foundational philosophical ideas underlying the establishment of the United States of America.

With such education, our students and citizens can therefore become increasingly aware of and proficient in the inspired, noble, and virtuous ideals of our constitutional republic that is founded on certain unalienable rights and the equality and freedom of all persons.  As a result, students will become more patriotic, informed, responsible, active, enthusiastic, and united citizens able to perpetuate the ideas of Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility that we value as members of the American family.

Our History

The American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF) is a non-profit, non-partisan (501.c.3) education group established in January 1995.  In 1993, current members of the organization worked with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to establish American Heritage Month. Today, schools throughout HISD and the nation celebrate our nation's heritage each November through creative activities and projects.  AHEF and HISD partnered in the development of an American heritage teacher resource and program for grades K-12, entitled America's Heritage:  An Adventure in Liberty.  This program continues to be introduced and activated throughout school districts in Texas and the nation.  American Heritage education workshops have also been developed to assist teachers in fully understanding and putting into practice the ideas and principles included in the program.

America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a project designed and written by teachers with AHEF and HISD to strengthen education in social studies, American history, American government, and related subjects.  It meets the standards and objectives of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and TEKS in Texas.  As a supplemental program and resource, it may be used within any curriculum, school, or district to help teachers improve student performance and enrichment.

The initial phase of this project included development of material designed for middle school students, published in 1996. The material was later expanded to include content for K-12 and was published as a first complete edition in the spring of 2001.  The material has been revised and improved in content, accuracy, presentation, and format in its latest edition (2012).  It is available free of charge as a download, free of charge in CD format, or for purchase in printed binder format.

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