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Among the most interesting of the earlier Wilder programs were the Wilder Health Centers, which operated between 1917 and 1924. Influenced by the high rate of military rejections of draftees during the first World War because of poor physical health, Wilder opened neighborhood preventive health centers to promote better health. All families in the neighborhood were encouraged to use the services of the center, which included medical care, corrective gymnastic classes, athletic teams and social clubs.

The Wilder Dispensary created much attention when it opened its doors in July 1924. The Dispensary's free medical and dental care to persons without financial resources was a much needed addition to the Saint Paul community. Physicians and residents from Miller Hospital staffed the dispensary free of charge. A headline from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press heralded the Dispensary to be “one of the most modern and best equipped in the world.” For 35 years, tens of thousands of individuals received treatment at the Dispensary from some of the best doctors in Saint Paul. The Dispensary remained a viable Wilder program until 1960 when it was taken over by a hospital association.

One of the first services that operated out of the Wilder Dispensary Building was the Wilder Child Guidance Clinic, an outpatient psychiatric clinic for children and their families. The Clinic originally began as a demonstration project at the University of Minnesota as a method of preventing or reducing "juvenile delinquency." In addition to serving children, the clinic has been a training site for mental health professionals.

Because of their role in education, the Clinic's staff was instrumental in setting national standards in the field of child psychiatry. The Clinic is nationally known as a treatment and training center and is one of the oldest continuously operated children’s clinics in the country serving emotionally disturbed children.

The history of the Wilder Foundation demonstrates a strong, innovative spirit and a willingness to adapt to the changing needs of the community. More than 300 health and human service programs have been provided by Wilder, many in collaboration with other service agencies and individuals.

Victor M. Watkins
1838-1921
Financial secretary and close advisor to Amherst H. Wilder
1st President -- Amherst H. Wilder Charity from 1905 until his death in 1921

The Victor M. Watkins Fund was created as a result of the Last Will and Testament of Anna Watkins Wilder, dated 9/29/19, in memory of her father. Since 1958, the Fund has financed Wilder programs and services that substantially and primarily benefit women over the age of 12 who are in need of services to maintain or achieve self-sufficiency.