Record Amount of Grants Awarded to Regional Nonprofits from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has awarded nearly $1.7 million in grants to 64 organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds. Each grantee organization is performing critical work within the seven counties of southeast Michigan; Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established these endowment funds at the Community Foundation to provide support to issue areas that were important to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime: Caregiving, Design and Access, Community Assets, and Youth Sports. Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding in perpetuity for charitable causes according to the Wilson Foundation’s wishes. Since 2016, nearly $4 million in 161 grants have been awarded to nonprofits in southeast Michigan.

“We are honored to help carry out Mr. Wilson’s personal philanthropic passions by supporting organizations working in caregiving, design and access, youth sports across the seven-county region, and community assets in Grosse Pointe, which was home to Ralph during his lifetime,” said Mariam C. Noland, President of the Community Foundation. “Through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, many organizations will strengthen programs to help improve the lives of residents in our community.”

The endowment funds at the Community Foundation are complementary to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s efforts to create immediate impact within the communities of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. Grants are made annually, and information for next year’s grants will be available this fall.

The following are a few examples of the 64 grants provided from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Foundation Funds administered by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan through an open, competitive application process:

Grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Fund for Caregiving

• Chaldean Community Foundation – $25,000 for an emergency preparedness and organization program for caregivers in Macomb County and surrounding communities.
• Livingston County Catholic Charities – $12,995 to enhance family caregiver skill sets, decrease stress and anxiety, and to provide respite.
• Universal Dementia Care – $25,000 for Detroit-based programming for caregivers, and for formalizing the evidence-based caregiver support program.

Grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Fund for Design and Access

• Downtown Detroit Partnership Bike Share – $40,000 for an adaptive bike program that provides cycling options for riders of all abilities.
• Friends of the Rouge – $49,000 for the Lower Rouge River Water Trail site plans, sign pilot and coordination.
• Trinity Health – $50,000 for building pathways to connect the hospital campus to Chelsea locations which will improve community health and safety.

Grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Fund for Youth Sports

• Figure Skating in Detroit – $20,000 for growing girls of color youth figure skating in Detroit.
• Kids on the Go – $20,000 for a youth sports program for children with disabilities in Macomb, Wayne and surrounding counties.
• Team GUTS, Inc. – $25,000 for turf area improvement to increase safety and expanded area of play for youth and special needs.

Grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Fund for Grosse Pointe Community Assets

• Full Circle Foundation – $24,960 for the expansion of TEAM 26, a program that supports special needs youth as they exit the public school system.
• Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education – $25,000 to continue and expand “The Leader in Me” program through 2020 in Grosse Pointe elementary schools
• Grosse Pointe Theatre – $23,000 for adding a Technical Theatre education program to the current Youth on Stage program.

For the list of all 64 grants, please visit CFSEM.org/WilsonGrantees2019 to view and download the brochure.

About the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed over $1 billion through more than 69,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties.

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