How it all began

The Chris Greicius story

Our History

The Missouri chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® serves eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. The first wish in our area was granted in 1986, and chapter status was granted in 1990, making us the 73rd chapter of the Foundation

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, our chapter responded to a pressing need to expand our physical presence on both sides of the Mississippi River. In the summer of 2000, we opened an Illinois Program Center in Collinsville, Illinois. One year later, a volunteer-operated Community Site was opened in Breese, Illinois.

Experiencing tremendous growth and with an office bursting at the seams, the Make-A-Wish Board of Directors determined the need to move its headquarters to a new location. McCarthy Building Companies fulfilled this wish by renovating a building on their grounds and offering a free long-term lease. Our headquarters relocated in the spring of 2001. Thanks to the incredible generosity of McCarthy, we now enjoy our own incredible Wish Home.

For more information on Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, see www.wish.org.