Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Supports Play in Local Schools

Playworks, the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health, recently announced a multiyear grant of $4,590,371 from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to expand its programs in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. The award will allow Playworks to expand its service offering to schools in the community and roll out existing services to new schools.

Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional health. We are changing school culture by leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school. We create a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Our vision is for 3.5 million kids in 7,000 elementary schools nationwide to experience safe and healthy play every day by 2020. Locally, our programs will serve 75 schools and 30,000 girls and boys this school year.

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

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