BMO200 Fountain is perfect place to make a wish in Chicago #BMO200

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, throwing a penny into a fountain as you make a wish. However, as we get older it feels like wishes are often reserved just for birthdays.

Adults still 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!)

They’ve put a modern twist on an old idea that pays homage to the centuries-old tradition of making a wish by tossing a coin into a fountain. They’ve inviting everyone in the community to make their own wishes through the BMO200 fountain. And, you never know when a wish will be granted!

You can find the fountain in Chicago outside The Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan Avenue, on level 1 nearest the Nordstrom mall entrance. At 17 feet high, you can’t miss it!

The interactive installation is reminiscent of a very big wishing well. That means you need to bring your big wishes, right? While most fountains use water, this one uses thousands of flip dots – the traditional technology used in destination boards at train stations – to create a unique ripple effect every time a wish is made.

I’m more than a little jealous of the people at BMO who will be granting 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 continue the bank’s legacy of giving back to the communities in which it does business.

“For 200 years, we have been financing economic expansion and helping our customers achieve their

ambitions along the way,” said David Casper, President and CEO, BMO Harris Bank. “A major component of our success has been our steadfast commitment to the communities we serve. From helping the city rebuild after the Chicago Fire with a $5,000 donation in 1871, to being the founding contributor to the Chicago Community Trust in 1915, our ties to the city run deep.”

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 www.bmo200.com. Follow along on social media with the hashtag #BMO200.

“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 familiar with “BMO Harris Bank,” many seemed 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.

Here’s hoping that all your wishes come true!

This post has been sponsored by BMO.