Buffalo, NY – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced that 57 Western New York organizations will receive a total of $1.3 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 Legacy Funds are annual grants; more information on applying for the next round can be found at https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.
The organizations that were funded along with the specific program that was supported 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 – $25,000.00
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of WNY – $24,851.00
- Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc. – $4,300.00
- Cradle Beach Camp – $20,199.00
- Empower – $10,323.00
- Gateway Home-Comfort Care, Inc. – $20,700.00
- Grace Guest House Inc – $12,500.00
- Heritage Christian Services – $14,500.00
- Hunter’s Hope Foundation – $25,000.00
- People, Inc. – $25,000.00
- Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. – $25,000.00
- Veterans One-stop Center of WNY, Inc. – $25,000.00
- West Falls Center for the Arts – $22,000.00
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Community Assets
- Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc. – $25,000.00
- Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park – $25,000.00
- Buffalo Arts and Technology Center, Inc – $24,552.00
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society – $12,500.00
- Buffalo String Works – $13,000.00
- Burchfield Penney Art Center – $15,000.00
- Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $15,000.00
- Danceability, Inc. – $12,500.00
- Explore Buffalo – $15,338.00
- Junior League of Buffalo – $10,000.00
- Just Buffalo Literary Center – $25,000.00
- Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $25,000.00
- Peace Of The City – $25,000.00
- Roycroft Campus Corporation – $15,000.00
- Westminster Economic Development Initiative – $15,000.00
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access
- Art For Rural America – $32,725.00
- Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences – $50,000.00
- Girl Scouts of Western New York, Inc. – $50,000.00
- Green Options Buffalo – $49,792.00
- Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. – $35,000.00
- University District Community Development Association – $50,000.00
- Valley Community Association Inc. – $11,234.00
- Western New York Land Conservancy – $50,000.00
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of WNY – $23,424.00
- Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School – $7,000.00
- Canisius College – $25,000.00
- Compeer of Greater Buffalo – $12,500.00
- Confident Girl Mentoring Program, Inc. – $12,500.00
- Cradle Beach Camp – $15,000.00
- Erie Regional Housing Development Corporation (The Belle Center) – $25,000.00
- Girl Scouts of Western New York, Inc. – $24,526.00
- Girls Sport Foundation – $25,000.00
- Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club – $24,988.00
- Olean-Bradford Area YMCA – $24,900.00
- Olmsted Center for Sight – $10,000.00
- Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. – $25,000.00
- Rural Outreach Center – $12,500.00
- Seneca-Babcock Community Association, Inc. – $25,000.00
- The Salvation Army – $12,500.00
- University District Community Development Association – $21,000.00
- Valley Community Association Inc. – $25,000.00
- West Side Rowing Club, Inc. – $25,000.00
- WNY Lacrosse Foundation – $25,000.00
- Youth Advantage/Buffalo Legacy Project – $13,390.00
For updates on the next granting cycle, please visit https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.
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About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Celebrating its centennial year in 2019, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo was established in 1919 to enhance and encourage 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. For 100 years 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