Community Foundation receives Wilson Foundation grant
Posted on November 18, 2015
The Community Foundation of St. Clair County was one of 20 organizations chosen for a Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation grant as part of its 2015 Transitional Legacy Grant Program.
The Community Foundation will receive $100,000 for its ongoing efforts in the area of Community & Economic Development, along with providing access to healthy food to county residents.
“We are thrilled to be one of the twenty organizations receiving support this morning,” said Mike Cansfield, the Community Foundation’s vice chair who attended the event at the Detroit Athletic Club. “The Community Foundation of St. Clair County remains dedicated to advancing regional growth and prosperity and this generous support will aid in those efforts.”
Trustees of The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced this grant as part of more than $17.4 million in support to organizations throughout southeast Michigan at a Nov. 18 event with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
“We are proud to announce these grants in collaboration with charitable organizations throughout Southeastern Michigan,” said Mary Wilson, life trustee of The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and wife of Ralph Wilson. “I know Ralph would be eternally grateful to see his passion for his hometown continue in this way, and it is wonderful to know his legacy will endure through the tireless efforts of so many organizations and people.”
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York, reflecting Mr. Wilson’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and the people of greater Buffalo, home of his Bills franchise.
The Foundation was funded by the $1.2 billion irrevocable trust created by Mr. Wilson, who passed away on March 25, 2014.
While long-term grant cycles will begin in 2016, this year’s one-time legacy grant program was created to help establish the Foundation and begin to share the societal gift left by Mr. Wilson. Per Mr. Wilson’s directive, the Foundation’s $1.2 billion corpus will be spent over the course of 20 years, in the hopes that its impact will be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best.
Mr. Wilson was a Detroit native and former owner of the Buffalo Bills football team.
