Tony Hawk-sponsored skate park opens in southwest Detroit
Tony Hawk Foundation and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Celebrate “International Go Skateboarding Day” Weekend, June 21-23rd
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJRF) and Tony Hawk Foundation (THF) are celebrating “International Go Skateboarding Day” this Friday, June 21 and continuing the festivities through the weekend with a variety of skatepark events and activities hosted by their Built to Play-skatepark grantees and partners throughout Southeast Michigan.
Download Press ReleaseWilson Foundation to Award $1M More for Play Spaces
KaBOOM! and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Renew Partnership to Bring Play to More Communities in Need
KaBOOM! and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Renew Partnership to Bring Play to More Communities in Need
Building upon the initial Built to Play Initiative, another $1 million is now available across Western New York and Southeast Michigan for creative ideas that incorporate play into everyday life in unexpected places
Download Press ReleaseState of Play Western New York
To inform Aspen’s work across this 8-county region, we engaged the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo 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 Western New York in getting kids active though sports, surveyed stakeholders gave the region an average grade of C+. We can do better!
Download ReportState 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 ReportChild’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 »