OUR HISTORY
The story of Gertrude Hawk Chocolates began with a need. At two moments in her life—as a teenage girl and as a middle-aged woman—Gertrude answered the needs of her family by going to work. Gertrude left school at the age of twelve to help her family when her father died. This is when she learned the craft of chocolate making. During the depression, Gertrude needed to supplement the family income. In 1936, she used her chocolate making skills to start a business in her kitchen which would shape her life, her community, and her family for generations. With her family by her side, Gertrude not only created and sold delicious chocolates, she created a business that would also help others.
The Early Days
One of Gertrude’s first customers was a local church that also needed funds. Partnering with churches, schools, and other non-profit organizations to fundraise became one of the hallmarks of Gertrude’s kitchen-based business (of chocolate covered goodness).
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates is proud of our reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and innovation with generations of customers and in the chocolate industry. We help hundreds of school, community, and non-profit organizations meet their monetary needs with our fundraising programs.
The Hawk Family Foundation was established to represent and promote the philanthropic interests of David and Ann Hawk, their descendants, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, and any companies Gertrude Hawk Chocolates/Holdings (GHC/H) might operate in the future.
The Foundation honors the family’s legacy of charitable giving by supporting regional nonprofit organizations whose services address the needs of children and families, the vulnerable, and programs that enhance the quality of life in the community.
