diff --git a/pkg/handlers/handlers.go b/pkg/handlers/handlers.go
index 3703552..5cbcc2a 100644
--- a/pkg/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/pkg/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/flashl1ght/myFirstGoApp/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/flashl1ght/myFirstGoApp/pkg/models"
 	"github.com/flashl1ght/myFirstGoApp/pkg/render"
 )
 
@@ -29,10 +30,17 @@ func NewHandlers(r *Repository) {
 
 // Home is the home page handler
 func (m *Repository) Home(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	render.RenderTemplate(w, "home.page.gohtml")
+	render.RenderTemplate(w, "home.page.gohtml", &models.TemplateData{})
 }
 
 // About is the about page handler
 func (m *Repository) About(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	render.RenderTemplate(w, "about.page.gohtml")
+	// perform some placeholder logic
+	stringMap := make(map[string]string)
+	stringMap["message"] = "This site is under construction"
+
+	// send the data to the template
+	render.RenderTemplate(w, "about.page.gohtml", &models.TemplateData{
+		StringMap: stringMap,
+	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/models/templatedata.go b/pkg/models/templatedata.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fbe4df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/models/templatedata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package models
+
+// TemplateData holds data sent from handlers to templates
+type TemplateData struct {
+	StringMap map[string]string
+	IntMap    map[string]string
+	FloatMap  map[string]float64
+	Data      map[string]interface{}
+	CSRFToken string
+	Flash     string
+	Warning   string
+	Error     string
+}
diff --git a/pkg/render/render.go b/pkg/render/render.go
index 4af6234..f859868 100644
--- a/pkg/render/render.go
+++ b/pkg/render/render.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/flashl1ght/myFirstGoApp/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/flashl1ght/myFirstGoApp/pkg/models"
 )
 
 var app *config.AppConfig
@@ -17,8 +18,13 @@ func NewTemplates(a *config.AppConfig) {
 	app = a
 }
 
+// AddDefaultData adds data to TemplateData
+func AddDefaultData(td *models.TemplateData) *models.TemplateData {
+	return td
+}
+
 // RenderTemplate renders templates using html/template
-func RenderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, tmpl string) {
+func RenderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, tmpl string, td *models.TemplateData) {
 	// get the template cache frokm the app config
 	templateCache := app.TemplateCache
 
@@ -29,7 +35,9 @@ func RenderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, tmpl string) {
 
 	buffer := new(bytes.Buffer)
 
-	_ = t.Execute(buffer, nil)
+	td = AddDefaultData(td)
+
+	_ = t.Execute(buffer, td)
 
 	//render the template
 	_, err := buffer.WriteTo(w)
diff --git a/templates/about.page.gohtml b/templates/about.page.gohtml
index 2de996f..efaeb92 100644
--- a/templates/about.page.gohtml
+++ b/templates/about.page.gohtml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col">
                 <h1>This is the about page</h1>
-                <p>This is empty</p>
+                <p>{{index .StringMap "message"}}</p>
             </div>
         </div>
     </div>