Ilon Wikland’s Foundation for Children’s Culture was established in 2017 with the purpose of promoting children’s creative development. This is carried out by awarding financial grants to activities in areas such as dance, theater, music, drawing, and painting, primarily in Sweden and Estonia. The foundation’s board decides on the distribution of these grants. The board consists of attorney Peter Danowsky, Ilon Wikland’s daughter Birgitta Wikland, publisher Erik Titusson, and writer Mark Levengood.

Ilon Wikland, born in 1930, came to Sweden as an unaccompanied refugee child from Estonia. As an illustrator, she depicted childhoods across the globe with unforgettable illustrations for Mio, My Son, The Brothers Lionheart, The Children of Noisy Village, The Long, Long Journey, and many, many more.