Meet the Owner

Laurie Manwaring-Jatcko has been owner of The Giving Tree from its beginning in 1984.

Laurie earned her M.A. from Eastern Illinois University and taught for seven years at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Greenville College before opening the store.

Laurie travels to markets in Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas to personally hand select every piece of merchandise for the business.

Laurie lives in the Edwardsville, Illinois area with her husband, John and has one son, Benjamin.