Press Releases
Discover the latest press releases for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation.
“City Within a Park” Collaboration Set to Lift Long-Term Support for Buffalo Parks
$25 million lead gift to endowment will fund ongoing maintenance, beautification measures in partnership with the City of Buffalo, others Buffalo, NY (June 26, 2025)—The Buffalo Common Council—in conjunction with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC), City of Buffalo’s Division of Parks and Recreation, and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo—has […]
DownloadRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces New Staff Hires in 2023
Foundation adds Gary Stark, Sarah Truax, Sheila O’Hara, Faye Radcliffe, and Danielle Wilder- Hamilton to the staff; and promotes Nena Taormino Detroit, MI – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today announced the addition of five new staff members in 2023. The new hires and positions include Gary Stark, director of grant operations; Sarah Truax, […]
DownloadRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces New Staff Hires in 2022
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today announced the addition of five new staff members in 2022. The new hires include two new program associates: Connie Kuo and Kate Partington; a communications associate: Mercedes Pergande; a senior learning officer: Liz Gordillo; and a grants management & operations assistant: Nena Taormino. These new hires bring the […]
DownloadRequest for Qualifications: Summative Evaluation of Parks, Trails & Green Design (PTGD) Focus Area
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation seeks to contract a firm or team of evaluators to conduct a summative evaluation of the Foundation’s Parks, Trails, and Green Design (PTGD) focus area. The objectives of the evaluation are 1) to document the grantmaking and non-grantmaking processes to date and analyze the associated outcomes of those efforts; […]
DownloadThe Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces New Staff Hires and Promotions
Paul Riser, Misha Stallworth West, Kari Pardoe, Marissa Rossman and Maria Suchyta join foundation
Download Press Release
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Health Foundation for Western & Central New York Announce Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative’s Next Program Launch Coming in 2022
The program will host two free informational events held virtually in November and December 2021 for Western New York area organizations interested in learning more about collaborating on respite initiatives.
Read Full Article »
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Receives $1 Million to support the future Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park in Buffalo
Gift comes from trusts of Wilson’s late daughters, Edith Wilson and Linda Bogdan; Additional grants from the trusts will be provided through an endowed donor advised fund to support park maintenance & youth tennis in the region.
DownloadKABOOM! and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announce 19 Winners of Play Everywhere Design Challenge
Community groups awarded $1 million total across Western New York and Southeast Michigan for public installations that inspire play in everyday spaces.
DownloadNew Conservancy to be Launched to Manage, Preserve Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park
Wilson Foundation formalizes $10 million commitment for park’s long-term sustainability. The Imagine LaSalle project partners have announced their intent to form the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy.
Download Press ReleaseRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Working to Gather 20,000 Teen Opinions Across Western New York & Southeast Michigan
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Working to Gather 20,000 Teen Opinions Across Western New York & Southeast Michigan Foundation launches “Teen Opinions Count” project to help inform future investments in afterschool programs
Read Full Article »Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Expands its Opportunity to Impact Caregivers with $4 million Investment and Partnerships with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Expands its Opportunity to Impact Caregivers with $4 million Investment and Partnerships with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York RCWJRF provides $2 million grant to each organization to endow new Program Officer positions focused on strategies and program to support caregivers […]
Download Press ReleaseRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces STEM 2035
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces STEM 2035 Beginning today, the Foundation is requesting applications to support afterschool and summer science, technology, engineering and math programs for youth in grades 6-12
Download Press ReleaseMIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge Launches in North America, in Collaboration with Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
MIT’s 2018 Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) Launches in North America; Over $1 Million to be Awarded to Organizations Reinventing the Future of Work CAMBRIDGE, MA, March 15, 2018 – Today, the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) announced that it will expand the global reach of its Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC). Collaborating with the Ralph […]
Download Press ReleaseRalph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces Vision for a Center for Nonprofit Support in Detroit
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Announces Vision for a Center for Nonprofit Support in Detroit TechTown, Michigan Nonprofit Association and Community Wealth Partners to ‘build out’ the Center’s operations and early services Detroit, MI (December 4, 2017) – Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced its plans today to develop and pilot a yet-to-be-named Center […]
Download Press ReleaseThe Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Highlights 2017 Grants-to-Date
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Highlights 2017 Grants-to-Date Foundation has committed nearly $24 million in grants across 40 organizations impacting its four areas of focus Detroit, MI /Buffalo, NY (Oct. 19, 2017) – Just one year after the launch of its official grant application portal, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today highlighted nearly […]
Download Press ReleaseRalph 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
Download Press ReleaseTwo Executive Staff Members Added
Full executive team now in place to help carry out the vision of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
Download Press Release