In 1928, Thomas Winston Briggs, a Memphian, founded the Welcome Wagon Company. From its modest beginnings in the Mid-South, the company grew to become Welcome Wagon International with its corporate headquarters in Memphis and offices in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Canada and London, England.

Welcome Wagon became a household word throughout the world and its 8,000 Hostesses were a familiar symbol of community service and friendship. The Welcome Wagon Hostesses made more than one million home visits per year welcoming new families to their communities and visiting others during special occasions. These visits were sponsored by 100,000 businesses and included gifts and messages from the sponsors along with helpful information about the community, its services and organizations.


A principal leader and guiding force in the development of the company, Executive Vice President, Rosanne Beringer, was second in command of the organization for thirty years. Following the death of Thomas Briggs in 1964, she succeeded Mr. Briggs as Chairman and President and efficiently ran the company until she retired in 1972.

Welcome Wagon visits still continue through Welcome Wagon Canada. Welcome Wagon in Canada was founded in 1930 and was led to its present level of success by Pauline Hill, who first became a Hostess in 1953 and advanced to be head of the company as CEO. (1962-1990)




Throughout his life, the interests of the community were always foremost in the mind of Thomas W. Briggs. The needs of the community helped guide his business, the Welcome Wagon Company. "Work first to serve your community, and your business success will follow," was a theme Briggs often repeated to the people he worked with.


Those ideals were also the basis of the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation which was chartered by Briggs in 1957, seven years before his death in 1964. By the terms of Briggs’ will, a large portion of his estate was bequeathed to the Thomas W. Briggs Residuary Trust for the benefit of 69 individuals. Most of the beneficiaries were long-standing members of the Welcome Wagon organization and under his will received income for life from the Trust. The will also provided that at the death of a beneficiary, his or her prorated share of the Trust’s assets be transferred to the Foundation, thereby assuring the growth and perpetuation of the Foundation.



The directors of the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation are committed to honoring this legacy in the community. They consider it a privilege and responsibility to continue the community interest Mr. Briggs fostered. Each year, the Foundation makes substantial gifts to numerous schools, institutions and non-profit agencies in the Memphis area.


Grants are focused in a number of areas:

  		• Youth projects and programs that provide opportunities for youth to reach their fullest potential
  		• Higher education and schools with special focus as well as educational services designed for disadvantaged children and youth
  		• Social services which reach all needs of the community
  		• Organizations devoted to arts and cultural enhancement
  		• Civic organizations that promote quality of life

    Past grants have been awarded to the following organizations:

  		• Youth Villages, Street Ministries, and BRIDGES
  		• Rhodes, Christian Brother College, University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owen and Neighborhood School
  		• Neighborhood Christian Centers, The Food Bank and MIFA
  		• Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Brooks Museum of Art, Ballet Memphis and Opera Memphis
  		• WKNO, The Memphis Zoo and The Botanic Gardens


    For more information on grants please visit the Funding Information page.
    Contact Us Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, Inc. • 6075 Poplar Ave. • Suite 330 • Memphis, TN 38119