John P. Wilson: A Legacy of Caring

John P. Wilson was a prominent lawyer in the early history of Chicago and played an integral role in shaping the legal landscape of the young and growing city. Yet it was Mr. Wilson’s philanthropy that most clearly distinguished his contributions to Chicago and established his legacy.

After a lifetime of service and giving to Children’s Memorial Hospital, Mr. Wilson designated a bequest to the hospital in his will. Through the terms of the will, Wilson gave Children’s Memorial one-third of a million dollars with the stipulation that the hospital raise another two-thirds of a million within a year. If the additional funds had not materialized, the gift to Children’s Memorial would have been reduced to $50,000, with the remainder of the funds reverting to his children. Thus, through his estate, Mr. Wilson created one of the first “challenge” gifts in Chicago’s history.

Mr. Wilson died in 1922, and in the end, Mr. Wilson’s children, who stood to lose the most if the challenge were met, personally saw to it that the larger gift to Children’s Memorial was realized. It is fitting that Children’s Memorial’s planned gift recognition society honors the contributions of John P. Wilson and his family.