On June 20th, nineteen hundred and sixty-one, a wish was granted. George B. Dedrick left one million dollars of his estate to establish The Geneseo Foundation. His hope was that others would contribute funds to benefit the community of Geneseo and surrounding area in Illinois.

By reaching out to those in need, and by supporting the search for knowledge, The Geneseo Foundation could have a positive impact on the lives of citizens in Geneseo and the surrounding areas.

The wish would allow Geneseo to become an enlightened community; one that was genuinely concerned about the less fortunate. In the process, Geneseo would become a better place to live, work, and grow.