Buffalo, N.Y. – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced that 94 Western New York organizations received nearly $2 million in grant awards from endowment funds created to carry on the legacy of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
Established in 2016, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation created the Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation to provide support to areas that were important to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime: Caregivers, Community Assets, Design and Access, and Youth Sports. Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes, forever.
The Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation were established to complement the work of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and to create immediate impact and long-term benefit in Western New York. The organizations that were funded and the grant amount are included below. Grant awards are listed alphabetically within each interest area.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Caregivers
Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter – $25,000
Canopy of Neighbors, Inc. – $15,000
Dale Association, Inc. – $8,400
Gateway Home-Comfort Care, Inc. – $21,889
Hearts and Hands–Faith in Action, Inc. – $16,425
Interfaith Caregivers – $10,900
Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo – $10,000
Kevin Guest House – $25,000
People Inc. – $21,466
Richmond Memorial Library – $25,000
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Community Assets
Ballet Artists of WNY, Inc. (Neglia Ballet) – $10,000
Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park – $15,000
Buffalo Arts and Technology Center, Inc. – $24,720
Buffalo Inner City Ballet – $10,000
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society – $10,000
Buffalo String Works – $12,500
Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $15,000
Central Terminal Restoration Corporation – $25,000
Community Music School of Buffalo – $10,000
Just Buffalo Literary Center – $11,000
MCC-DC dba West Side Community Services – $10,000
North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $10,000
Old First Ward Community Association – $25,000
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $25,000
Shea’s Performing Arts Center – $25,000
Squeaky Wheel | Buffalo Media Resources – $12,500
Stitch Buffalo, Inc. – $13,000
Ukrainian American Freedom Foundation (Ukrainian Cultural Center Dnipro) – $15,000
Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc. – $25,000
Young Audiences WNY – $25,000
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access
Aquarium of Niagara – $25,000
Artpark & Company, Inc. – $25,000
Buffalo Lighthouse Association – $25,000
Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village – $25,000
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper – $25,000
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy – $25,000
Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences – $25,000
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation – $50,000
Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation – $15,000
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation – $12,500
City of Jamestown – $25,000
Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail – $50,000
Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY – $50,000
Houghton College – $50,000
King Urban Life Center – $25,000
Lakewood Community Development Corporation – $25,000
NorthLake Family Recreation Center Inc. – $10,000
Open Space Institute Land Trust – $50,000
Preservation Buffalo Niagara – $25,000
Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Inc. – $50,000
Shared Mobility Inc. – $49,882
Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $25,000
Town of Allegany – $49,165
Town of Caneadea – $50,000
Village of Perry – $50,000
Western New York Land Conservancy – $28,000
Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association – $50,000
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports
#IntegrityFirst, Inc. – $10,000
A Better YOU Lifestyle, Inc. – $11,850
Allegany Arrows Minor Lacrosse Association – $18,000
BestSelf Behavioral Health, Inc. – $15,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of WNY – $12,760
Boys on the Right Track – $10,000
Buffalo City Swim Racers dba The City Swim Project – $10,000
Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association – $7,000
Buffalo Urban League – $18,000
Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation – $16,000
Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc. – $20,000
Cradle Beach Camp Cradle Beach, Inc.- $25,000
Depew-Lancaster Boys & Girls Club – $20,000
Erie Regional Housing Development Corporation – The Belle Center – $20,000
First Tee of Western New York – $5,000
Girl Scouts of Western New York, Inc. – $13,600
Girls on the Run of Buffalo, Inc. – $10,000
Girls Sport Foundation – $20,000
GObike Buffalo (aka Green Options Buffalo) – $24,560
Kenan Center – $5,000
King Urban Life Center – $10,000
Metro Community Development Corporation – $15,000
Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity – $14,000
Peace Of The City – $15,000
Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. – $10,000
Seneca-Babcock Community Association, Inc. – $15,000
SOLID Foundation Prep, Inc. – $12,000
Special Olympics New York – $20,000
Tapestry Charter School – $12,500
The Salvation Army – $7,150
Valley Community Association – $12,500
Victory Sports Global Outreach, Inc. – $10,000
Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program – $20,000
WNY Lacrosse Foundation – $10,000
YMCA Buffalo Niagara – $10,000
YMCA of the Twin Tiers – $20,000
Youth Advantage/Buffalo Legacy Project – $20,000
The Legacy Funds are annual grants; for updates on the next granting cycle, please visit www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.
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About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at www.cfgb.org.
About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the foundation that bears his name. The foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information, visit www.rcwjrf.org.