State of Play Southeast Michigan
To inform Aspen’s work across this 7-county region, we engaged the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to create a local taskforce of youth sports practitioners and leaders who provided insights, expertise and feedback throughout the research process.
The following report represents thousands of local voices—young and old across the region—gathered through interviews, roundtables, focus groups and online surveys. When asked the question, what grade would you give Southeast Michigan in getting kids active though sports, surveyed stakeholders gave the region an average grade of C+. We can do better!
Download ReportWilson Foundation to grant $200 million for waterfront parks, trail connections in Detroit, Buffalo
Wilson Foundation helping remake parks in Detroit, Buffalo
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces $200 Million Investment in Parks & Trails Initiative
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces $200 Million Investment in Parks & Trails Initiative
The gift honors the Foundation’s namesake, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr, on the 100th anniversary of his birth and celebrates his legacy in the communities he was most devoted to. The funds will be split evenly, dedicating $100 million to each region to help develop signature legacy parks, advance the vision of completed regional trail systems, and support the sustainability of these public spaces. (more…)
Download Press ReleaseHow Detroiters Are Shaping a Post-Industrial Riverfront Park
Sure, sometimes, the 22-acre space comes alive for the occasional outdoor concert, but for the most part, Detroit’s West Riverfront Park is pretty desolate compared to the city’s RiverWalk, just a few miles east and home to lush wetlands vegetation, family-friendly playgrounds and volleyball courts and spacious walkways that welcome three million visitors a year of all races and incomes.
Read the full article at Next City »Child’s Play: Why Are More Foundations Giving for Playgrounds and Skateparks?
Play is critically important to a child’s development. Kids learn how to interact with the world around them through play. It helps them learn the cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills that they need to thrive. Play is considered so essential to child development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights see it as a right of every child.
Despite that, not many foundations support initiatives that support play outside of broader education work. However, there’s a small—and growing—number of funders that do. A recent gift that fits the bill came from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
Read the full article at Inside Philanthropy »Finding New Ways for Kids to Play is Part of a Winning Strategy
Having room to roam, to dream about the future and to imagine a better world—that is what the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation sees as the reasons for investing in public play spaces in communities that truly need them.
Recently, the organization announced Built to Play, an initiative focusing on children and youth in Western New York and Southeast Michigan—two areas that studies showed were in need of more areas for active play.
Read the full article at Corp! Magazine »Editorial: Wilson Foundation is working for healthier kids
If children have the opportunity to play, they will take it. That may mean running, jumping, skipping rope or hopping back and forth on lines drawn in chalk.
This was the state of play so many of us grew up with and somehow got lost over the decades.
Yes, video games have become ubiquitous. Few children leave home without some device to watch, play or to use to get lost on social media. Then there are the children who grow up in unsafe places, where going outside to play comes with risks.
Unfortunately, the lack of physical activity is adversely affecting children’s health. Experts talk about the increased incidence of diabetes among young people, and worry about the long-term effects of sedentary lives.
The $5 million being provided by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation in Western New York will bring positive change. The goal is to build small, innovative play spaces, custom-designed playgrounds and skate parks in Western New York.
Read the full article at Buffalo News »Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Launches $10 Million Play Initiative
The Buffalo-based Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has announced a $10 million initiative to provide children and youth across western New York State and southeastern Michigan with more opportunities for free play through the creation of public play spaces.
Read the full article at Philanthropy News Digest »Ralph Wilson Foundation to fund skate parks, playgrounds and play spaces in WNY
If you build it they will come.
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced Thursday the creation of a program that will build interactive public play spaces for kids as well as skate parks in western New York and southeast Michigan.
The “Built to Play’’ initiative will be funded by $5 million awards to each region through RCWJRF, a grantmaking organization established by the late founder of the Buffalo Bills.
Read the full article at Democrat & Chronicle »