Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2016

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Biggest Hearts
F or 26 years, Wonder Works
specialty toy store has served as a
springboard for fostering children’s
imaginations in order to give back to
the community.
“It’s a store, but it’s so much
more,” said owner Christine Osborne.
“Wonder Works is a platform for the youth in the commu-
nity and their philanthropic spirit.
It reaches well beyond just selling
girl scout cookies.”
An occupational therapist by trade, Osborne and late
co-owner Dan Morrisey felt
from the beginning that it
was important to emphasize
a giving and caring nature.
Their employees – known as
magic makers – have a twin-
kle in their eye and help every
customer feel that they are
in a wonderful place – they
leave happier than when they
arrived. The magic makers
also keep a keen eye out for
children who want to foster
their skills and actually help
them do so in an entrepre-
neurial way.
William Manzi, for example, is an 11-year-old who
came up with an idea to make fishing lures and sell them
to raise money for a cardiac program at MUSC in honor
of his grandfather.
“He told us about his idea. We gave him advice on how
to make it more marketable, gave him ideas for packaging
and display, and we gave him the opportunity to sell it in
our store,” beamed Osborne.
Manzi’s Lowcountry Lures is just one of many phil-
anthropical businesses fostered with the help of Wonder
Works: Abby’s Friends, Hugs for Harper, Keys for Hope;
and Lemon-Aidan also give back to charities that support
causes from fighting cancer to helping the homeless.
“We have found that you never tell a child no, because
you never know what door that will slam for the rest
of his life. Always help them with ideas because they’re
more encouraged to continue doing it in the future and
become an inspiration to others. If you foster their entre-
preneurial spirit from the beginning, you are equipping
them with tools to succeed in life and a passion to help
others,” she said.
Wonder Works hosts two major charitable events
annually, with many of these children-started businesses
in attendance: Wonderfest, which kicks off the Cooper
River Bridge Run, and the
largest free family festival in
Charleston.
Elfstravaganza will be held
Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
at Wonder Works’ Mount
Pleasant location. Partner-
ing with Belle Hall Shopping
Center, the town of Mount
Pleasant, Harris Teeter and Li-
cense to Play, Wonder Works
offers countless free activities
and holiday treats. Fifteen na-
tional toy companies will give
kids and adults the opportunity
to try the season’s hottest new items, and, in Wonder Works
fashion, every child will leave with a free toy.
“Just one child can make a difference. We don’t know
if the next child who walks through our doors might be
the next Bill Gates,” Osborne explained. “But the more
we can foster learning – teach them to look an adult in the
eye and ask ‘would you like to purchase this because the
money goes to this cause that is important to me’ – the
more we teach them to take the next step.”
Visit Wonder Works specialty toy store for the hottest
trending toys as well as local children’s philanthropical
products in Belle Hall Shopping Center. Experience the
magic.
WonderWorks Toys
Opening Doors
for Children
By Anne TOOLe
Photo courtesy of Wonder Works Toys.
Wonder Works hosts two major charitable events annually, with
many children-started businesses in attendance.