One thing I love about childhood is the focus on wishes and the many opportunities to make them: wishing upon a star, the wishbone at the conclusion of Thanksgiving dinner,\u00a0throwing a penny into a fountain as you\u00a0make a wish. However, as we get older it feels like wishes are often reserved just for birthdays.<\/p>\n

Adults\u00a0still have wishes, though, which is why I was excited to hear how BMO Harris Bank is marking its 200th year. (And bicentennials really do call for big celebrations!)<\/p>\n

They’ve put a\u00a0modern twist on an old idea that pays\u00a0homage to the centuries-old\u00a0tradition of making a wish by tossing a coin into a fountain. They’ve inviting everyone\u00a0in the community to make their own wishes\u00a0through the BMO200 fountain. And, you never know when a wish will be granted!<\/p>\n

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You can find the fountain \u00a0in Chicago outside The Shops at North Bridge, 520\u00a0N. Michigan Avenue, on level 1 nearest the Nordstrom mall entrance. At 17 feet high, you can’t miss it!<\/p>\n

The interactive installation is\u00a0reminiscent of \u00a0a very big wishing well. That means you need to bring your big wishes, right? While most fountains use\u00a0water, this one uses thousands of flip dots \u2013\u00a0the\u00a0traditional technology used in destination boards at train stations\u00a0\u2013\u00a0to create a unique ripple effect\u00a0every time a wish is made.<\/p>\n

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I’m more than a little jealous of the people at BMO who will be\u00a0granting wishes. They will make some of the wishes both big and small made at the fountain over the course of the year in an effort to\u00a0continue the bank\u2019s legacy of giving back to the communities in which it\u00a0does business.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“For 200 years, we have been financing economic expansion and helping\u00a0our customers achieve their<\/div>\n

ambitions along the way,”\u00a0said David Casper, President and CEO, BMO Harris Bank. “A major\u00a0component of our success has been our steadfast commitment to the communities we serve. From\u00a0helping the city rebuild after the Chicago Fire with a $5,000 donation in 1871, to being the founding\u00a0contributor to the Chicago Community Trust in 1915,\u00a0our ties to the city run deep.”<\/div>\n

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I’m excited to make my own wish when the fountain opens tomorrow on April 13, and hope everyone else gets a chance to make theirs, too. However, don’t worry if you’re unable to visit the cool foundation because you’re not in Chicago? You can still make your wish! Just visit\u00a0www.bmo200.com. Follow along on social media with the hashtag #BMO200.<\/div>\n

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“BMO” stands for Bank of Montreal. I’ve shared that info with a few friends in the Chicago area and been greeted with an “Ohhhhh!” each time. (You know I love trivia and random info.) Although people here are\u00a0familiar with “BMO Harris Bank,” many\u00a0seemed to not know what the BMO stood for. BMO was established in 1817 and set up a permanent agency in Chicago in 1861 and has been around ever since.<\/div>\n

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Here’s hoping that all your wishes come true!<\/div>\n

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