Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announces grant awards from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced 98 Western New York organizations received more than $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 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 - $15,500
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of WNY - $10,000
• Brian Moorman’s P.U.N.T. Foundation - $20,000
• Buffalo City Mission - $10,000
• Canopy of Neighbors Inc. - $10,000
• Center for Elder Law & Justice Inc. - $10,000
• Community Connections at Findley Lake Inc. - $23,469
• Gateway Home-Comfort Care Inc. - $21,674.64
• Grace Guest House Inc. - $10,000
• HART Inc. - $19,900
• Heritage Christian Services - $25,000
• Hospice of Orleans Inc. - $12,500
• Interfaith Caregivers - $25,000
• Legal Assistance of Western New York - $25,000
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society - $25,000
• People Inc. - $10,000
• Shakespeare in Delaware Park - $11,850

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Community Assets

• Ballet Artists of WNY Inc. - $20,000 
• Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park - $25,000
• Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society Inc. - $25,000
• Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society - $25,000
• Buffalo Arts and Technology Center Inc. - $25,000
• Buffalo Lighthouse Association - $25,000
• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village - $20,000
• Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society - $25,000
• Buffalo String Works - $10,000
• Burchfield Penney Art Center - $10,000
• Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts Inc. - $15,000
• Community Music School of Buffalo - $25,000
• Erie Regional Housing Development Corp. – The Belle Center - $10,000
• Explore Buffalo - $10,000
• H.E.A.L International - $10,000
• Just Buffalo Literary Center - $10,000
• King Urban Life Center - $25,000
• MCC-DC d/b/a/ 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 - $15,000
• Peace Of The City - $25,000
• Westminster Economic Development Initiative Inc. - $10,000
• WNY Book Arts Center - $12,500

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access

• Alfred University - $25,000
• Allegany County - $50,000
• Artpark & Company Inc. - $50,000
• Audubon Community Nature Center - $10,000
• Autism Services Inc. - $10,000
• BRRAlliance Inc. - $38,500
• Buffalo Lighthouse Association - $50,000
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper - $40,000
• Cattaraugus Chautauqua Chapter of the New York State Horse Council Inc. - $49,200
• Chautauqua Rails to Trail Inc. - $37,000
• Chestnut Ridge Conservancy Inc. - $50,000
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara Count - $20,000
• Empower - $10,000
• Friends of Knox Farm State Park - $10,000
• Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway Inc. - $42,000
• Girl Scouts of Western New York Inc. - $10,000
• Green Options Buffalo - $49,360.41
• Heart, Love & Soul - $10,000
• Jamestown YMCA - $10,000
• Lockport Locks Heritage District Corp. - $20,000
• Natural Heritage Trust - $25,000
• New Directions Youth & Family Services - $28,500
• Rural Revitalization Corp. - $20,000
• Town of Cheektowaga - $49,184.17
• Town of Evans - $50,000
• University District Community Development Association - $50,000
• Western New York Land Conservancy - $10,000
• Wilson Community Food Pantry - $10,000

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports

• Algonquin Sports for Kids Inc. - $25,000
• Back to Basics Outreach Ministries Inc. - $20,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo Inc. - $25,000
• Buffalo Curling Club - $13,000
• Buffalo Sports and Wellness Association (d/b/a/ Healthy Buffalo) - $12,000
• Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center - $14,600
• Confident Girl Mentoring Program Inc. - $25,000
• Cradle Beach Camp - $19,400
• Gerard Place - $12,500
• Girl Scouts of Western New York Inc. - $18,800
• Girls on the Run of Buffalo Inc. - $15,000
• Girls Sport Foundation - $25,000
• GLOW YMCA Inc (d/b/a/ Orleans County YMCA) - $15,000
• Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports - $25,000
• Muslim Society of Buffalo - $25,000
• Native American Community Services of Erie & Niagara Counties Inc. - $25,000
• New Niagara Community Center Inc. - $15,000
• Peace Of The City Athletic Leadership at Peace Of The City - $25,000
• Police Athletic League of Buffalo Inc. - $25,000
• Randolph Area Community Development Corp. - $25,000
• Seneca Street Community Development Corp. - $15,000
• St John’s Roman Catholic Church Society - $11,374
• The Champion Project The Champion - $25,000
• University District Community Development Association - $15,000
• Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program - $20,000
• WNY Lacrosse Foundation - $10,000
• YMCA of the Twin Tiers - $24,900
• Youth Advantage/Buffalo Legacy Project - $14,000
• Youth Mentoring Services of Niagara County Inc. - $15,000

The Legacy Funds are annual grants. For updates on the next granting cycle, visit https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.