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 »

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Launches Built to Play Initiative to Provide More Opportunities for Kid-Driven Free Play Across Western New York and Southeast Michigan

Buffalo, NY/Detroit, MI (March 1, 2018) – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJRF) today announced Built to Play, an initiative designed to give children and youth across Western New York and Southeast Michigan more opportunities for free play through the creation of new, interactive public play spaces. To fund and operate the initiative, the Foundation will invest up to $5 million in each region (for a maximum of $10 million) over the next several years, to provide grassroots groups and nonprofits with support to create and maintain these play spaces within their neighborhoods.

The Foundation has partnered with the Tony Hawk Foundation (THF), an organization focused on promoting high-quality, public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the U.S., and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to giving all kids great, safe places to play, to work with communities across its two regions of focus on the development of various uniquely designed spaces. Tony Hawk Foundation has helped build more than 500 skateparks across all 50 states, while KaBOOM! has built more than 3,000 playgrounds throughout the country.

The need for more safe, outdoor play options for youth in both rural and low-income neighborhoods throughout Western New York and Southeast Michigan was a key finding in the State of Play reports released in June 2017 by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The Built to Play initiative was developed as a response by the Foundation to help answer that need by providing more access to free play through the development of innovative play spaces and skateparks.

“Our vision with Built to Play is to create more opportunities and places of recreation that are owned and embraced by the kids and families they serve,” said Jim Boyle, Vice President of Programs & Communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “The Tony Hawk Foundation and KaBOOM! are experts in their respective fields and will do a wonderful job leading these collaborative efforts in our regions. We look forward to the day that more children within these communities can make active play a part of their daily life through these play spaces and skateparks.”

Over the next several months, KaBOOM! and Tony Hawk Foundation will begin to immerse themselves in both regions to engage potential applicants to help guide them through the process and steps to create these spaces. The three funding opportunities within Built to Play are:

• KaBOOM! Play Everywhere Challenge (Up to 20 winners total) – Design competition which encourages installations constructed to integrate play into everyday life and unexpected places (such as on sidewalks, in vacant lots, at bus stops, in open streets and beyond). More details on the application process will be announced in early March. Through RCWJRF funding, KaBOOM! will award grants to the challenge winners in August.
• KaBOOM! Unique Playground Builds (Two in each region) – Hands-on design and build day events for kids, parents, and community members to give ideas and input for their dream playground. A team of world-class designers will turn the community’s dreams into reality with custom playground designs. The design phase will take place between May – August 2018 and the community-builds will take place from July – October 2018.
• Tony Hawk Foundation Skateparks (Up to five in first phase, up to 20 total) – Through RCWJRF funding, THF will offer matching/challenge grants to assist in the construction of public, non-profit skateparks, giving youth the opportunity to be active whether they’re riding on skateboards, BMX bikes, scooters or rollerblades. THF will begin outreach and announce the opening of applications later this Spring for the first phase.

“We know that play is essential for the well-being of kids and our communities,” said Roxane Rucker, Vice President, Community Impact at KaBOOM!. “That’s why we are thrilled to be working with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation as part of the Built to Play initiative to help create play spaces in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Through our work together, we are helping kids get the playful childhood experiences they deserve and need to grow up healthy, resilient and ready for life.”

“The Built to Play Skatepark Program will support communities with both expertise and an unprecedented matching grant opportunity,” said Miki Vuckovich, Executive Director, Tony Hawk Foundation. “Our goal is to bring the many benefits of skateparks and the active lifestyle they encourage to communities throughout both regions so kids can thrive. And this program is designed to do just that.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation’s dedicated project manager for the Built to Play initiative will work across both regions to help applicants navigate the public process of building a skatepark. KaBOOM! staff will play a similar role, leading the community engagement and offering technical assistance to help grantees complete design, installation and promotion of their projects.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s grantmaking in Youth Sports and Recreation is largely based on its Project Play initiative driven by the Aspen Institute’s “Eight Plays” to get and keep kids active, which were analyzed within the State of Play reports. Three key “plays,” which the Built to Play initiative supports, include “ask kids what they want,” “reintroduce free play,” and “think small.” The reports also identified the need to create safe options for youth to stay active who don’t take part in organized sports. Built to Play will help fill that void.

To learn more about Built to Play and the application process and eligibility for each opportunity, visit RWBuiltToPlay.org.

 

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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 rcwjrf.org.

About KaBOOM!:
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or restore more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids

 

About the Tony Hawk Foundation
:
A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. THF promotes and provides technical assistance and funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States that promote healthy, active lifestyles, and to International programs that enrich the lives of youth through skateboarding.

Domestically, the Foundation’s Skatepark Grant program has awarded over $5.7-million to 588 communities in all 50 states. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Foundation’s International Program has provided technical support and awarded $100,000 to assist youth through the Skateistan educational programs in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa (www.skateistan.org).
The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. For more information, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. You can also visit THF on facebook and Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation, and on Twitter @THF.

 

Media Contacts:
Kailey Kolozsvary
Martin Davison Public Relations
585-705-8618
kkolozsvary@martingroupmarketing.com

Carly Strachan
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
313-460-8100
carly.strachan@rcwjrf.org

Download Press Release

To inform Aspen’s work across this 6-county region, we engaged Rochester Area Community Foundation 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 Greater Rochester & the Finger Lakes in getting kids active though sports, surveyed stakeholders gave the region an average grade of C+. We can do better!

Download Report

A $1 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has launched the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association’s fundraising efforts for its new rowing center one giant length closer to the finish line.

The grant is the largest gift the BSRA has received for the Patrick Paladino Memorial Boathouse, based on the original donation of land from the Paladino family, and will be used for the construction and management of the center located at 405 Ohio St. on the Buffalo River.

Read the full article at The Buffalo News »

Southeast Michigan is a diverse region. It covers broad swatches of farmland, suburbs, and urban neighborhoods. Half of our state population resides in metro Detroit, which contains both affluent and low-income families of many ethnicities. In our communities and neighborhoods, it is the next generation – young people of all ages, cultures and creeds – who will steward the enterprising tenacious spirit that is redefining us.

It is within this context that the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and our partners at the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan unveil “State of Play,” a report that analyzes the rate of participation in youth sports in the seven counties of this region – Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, and St. Clair counties.

The study is anchored in the notion that everyone in the community will benefit if our children are provided access to quality sport experience, as such experiences lead to greater cognitive function, position mental health, better educational outcomes, and greater likelihood of lifelong healthy habits.

 

Read the full article at Detroit Free Press »

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo unveil ‘State of Play’ report on youth sports in the region

More than 1,000 local voices informed Aspen Institute analysis, which reveals the bright spots, gaps and opportunities to get more kids in the game

Buffalo, NY (June 29, 2017) – Today, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo released “State of Play,” an independent assessment conducted by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program that examines access, quality, and participation in youth sports in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

“Research shows active children do better in life,” said Tom Farrey, executive director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program. “They’re healthier, more often go on to college, and as they move into adulthood are more likely to raise active kids. So how do we get more kids off the couch, without running them into the ground? It starts with a clear-eyed account of how well a community is currently serving kids through sports. We hope this report — the first of its kind nationally — provides valuable insights that can help mobilize stakeholders.”

Among the 40-plus findings in the report, which can be downloaded at RCWJRF.org/StateofPlay:

• Not Enough Kids Active at a Healthy Level: While 84 percent of parents believe it’s important to have their children regularly involved in sports, only 16 percent of youth across Western New York are physically active one hour a day, the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• It’s About More than Sports: A Johns Hopkins University analysis projects that if stakeholders in the region can get and keep just 25 percent of youth active daily, 7,488 fewer youth would be overweight and obese, saving the region more than $262 million in direct medical costs and workplace productivity losses.
• Where Have the Neighborhood Games Gone?: The sports experience has changed dramatically over the past generation or so, with children participating in fewer sports and activities near their homes. Casual/pick- up play has become far less common, with more youth primarily playing in organized team settings.
• Many bright spots, but we can do better: Youth sport providers and other stakeholders across Western New York gave the region a C+ in getting kids active through sports, according to an online survey. The grade aligns with research by the Aspen Institute, which found many innovative organizations and grassroots champions dedicated to youth, but also gaps in program access, especially in low-income and rural areas.

“Our vision is to have a Western New York community in which all children, regardless of ZIP code or ability, have the opportunity to be active through sports,” said David O. Egner, President & CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “The State of Play report identifies the challenges we face as a region, but more importantly, it also shares the opportunities that all of us in the community – parents, educators, funders, and leaders – can pursue for improvement.”

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation commissioned the report and partnered with Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to create and oversee a local task force of youth sports practitioners and leaders who provided insights, expertise and feedback throughout the eight-month research process.

“For the first time ever, we have a clear picture of what the state of youth sports looks like in our region,” said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President and CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. “State of Play is a playbook that will drive community conversation and action on how we can collectively address youth sports for years to come.”

More than 1,000 local adults and youth informed the State of Play report through interviews, roundtables, focus groups and surveys. With the help of a George Washington University research team, the Aspen Institute analyzed the region through its existing framework of eight strategies, or “plays,” designed to increase sport participation with urban, suburban and rural youth.

The eight “plays” include:

1. Ask Kids What They Want: Understanding the needs of kids by building their voice into the decision-making process around sports
2. Reintroduce Free Play: Making room for less-structured activity
3. Encourage Sports Sampling: Exposing kids to a variety of sports, and not asking them to specialize early in any one sport
4. Revitalize In-Town Leagues: Supporting community-based options
5. Think Small: Being creative in the use and development of play spaces
6. Design for Development: Delivering age-appropriate programs
7. Train All Coaches: Training in key competencies in safety and working with kids
8. Emphasize Prevention: Preventing brain and other injuries

While the State of Play report will help to inform grantmaking strategies for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the broader hope is that the region’s communities will begin to engage in this early conversation and collectively rally around our youth. Beginning this fall, the two foundations will partner to host a series of community roundtables and discussions to improve youth sports.

Western New York’s State of Play is one of three regional youth sports and recreation studies commissioned by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and conducted by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, in partnership with local community foundations. Studies were also conducted and reports were developed in Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes and Southeast Michigan, the Foundation’s primary regions for investment. These communities were the home and adopted home of the Foundation’s namesake and founder, the late Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., a Detroit area native and lifelong resident, and founder and long-time owner of the Buffalo Bills professional football team.

To view the full State of Play report, and to receive updates and learn more about upcoming efforts to improve the local state of play, visit RCWJRF.org/StateofPlay.

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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.

About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1919 to enhance and encourage long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. The Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Since 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. For more information visit www.cfgb.org

About the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program

The Sports & Society Program convenes leaders, facilitates dialogue and inspires solutions that help sport serve the public interest. Its signature initiative is Project Play, which provides stakeholders with resources and opportunities to build healthy communities through sports.
More: www.SportsAndSociety.org

Media Contacts

Kailey Kolozsvary
Martin Davison Public Relations
585-705-8618
kkolozsvary@martingroupmarketing.com

Carly Strachan
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
313-460-8100
carly.strachan@rcwjrf.org

Download Press Release

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Rochester Area Community Foundation release groundbreaking report on the state of play in Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes. It will serve as a playbook on how best to use a $5 million endowment for youth sports and recreation to build a healthier, happier community.

Read the full article at Democrat & Chronicle »

Youth sports have fundamentally changed over the generations – from casual, unstructured play to more organized programs run by adults – and the end result has been noticeable: Fewer kids playing and staying active, and more kids overweight and obese. But a new report – touted as the first of its kind nationally – outlines some of the specific problems and solutions for the Buffalo region, so it can get more kids off the couch.

Read the full article at The Buffalo News »

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Rochester Area Community Foundation Unveil ‘State of Play’ Report on Youth Sports in the Region
More than 1,000 local voices informed Aspen Institute analysis, which reveals the bright spots, gaps and opportunities to get more kids in the game

Rochester, NY (June 29, 2017) – Today, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Rochester Area Community Foundation released State of Play, an independent assessment conducted by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program that examines access, quality, and participation in youth sports in Livingston, Ontario, Monroe, Wayne, Seneca, and Yates counties.
(more…)

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Michigan kids need to get moving, according to a study of youth sports released today. The study found that while 85% of parent think their children would benefit from playing a sport or being active, only 13% of kids are getting the recommended daily hour of physical activity. The study, called State of Play, was funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, which is hoping to create programming for low-income youths and others that is aimed at increasing physical activity.

Read the full article at Detroit Free Press »