Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announces grant awards from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. legacy funds

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced 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.

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 Corp. – $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 Corp. – $50,000
• Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation – $15,000
• Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corp. – $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 Corp. – 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 Corp. – $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, visit www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.

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 Wilson’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Wilson requested a significant share of his estate be used to continue a lifelong 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 Jan. 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with 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.

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.

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.