Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation

08/28/2026

One revitalized corner can create new energy and the right partnerships can build momentum across an entire corridor.

In this Economy Builders story from the Center for Regional Strategies (CRS), Megan Houppert, CEO of Home Leasing, and Dr. Joseph Stefko, president and CEO of One ROC, share how Home Leasing, OneROC and the Regional Revitalization Partnership came together to transform Harper’s Corner at Main and Clinton in downtown Rochester, NY. Learn more about Economy Builders and CRS: https://centerforregionalstrategies.org/builders/

🎥 Watch their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeRGzdKdmVI

08/25/2026

Memphis, MI is just one square mile, but the Memphis Lions Club shows how much community a small place can hold.

“You’ve got to have a place where you can have fabric ... if you’re going to have a community, and we weave a lot of those threads through this space.”

Across the Lions Club’s 17-acre property, volunteers contribute the time, skills and care that sustain this community hub. Foundation funding is helping support specialized improvements beyond what volunteers could reasonably provide.

In our latest Rural Insights for Philanthropy, Katie Brisson explores what rural project budgets don’t always capture—and why recognizing the value of a community’s in-kind contributions can help funders build on what is already there.

Watch the story and read more: https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/rural-insights-for-philanthropy-in-kind-contributions-what-rural-project-budgets-dont-show/

08/23/2026

Last Day to Vote! Would you trust young people to direct more than $4 million?

Through With Youth For Youth, young leaders in Western New York and Southeast Michigan did exactly that, designing grantmaking processes, reviewing applications, and deciding how millions of dollars would support afterschool and youth sports programs in their communities.

Now, they’re ready to bring what they learned to SXSW EDU 2027. Vote for their proposed session to hear directly from young grantmakers about what happens when adults move beyond asking for youth input and give young people real decision-making power.

Create or sign in to your free SXSW account, review the proposal, and select the heart to vote today!
Please share this message with others who believe young people should help shape the programs, systems, and investments that affect their lives.

https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1785114963747001y9mw

08/21/2026

Employers understand where opportunity is growing and strong workforce partners help people prepare to reach it.

In this Economy Builders story from the Center for Regional Strategies (CRS), Stephen Tucker, executive director of the Western New York Manufacturing & Tech Workforce Coalition and president and CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center, joins former Moog executive Jerry Irving to share how employers and training organizations are building clearer pathways into good-paying careers. Learn more about Economy Builders and CRS: https://centerforregionalstrategies.org/builders/

🎥 Watch their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9buH44ergGw

Stephen Tucker and Jerry Irving of the WNY Manufacturing and Tech C...

08/20/2026

📣 Southeast Michigan young people: your voice belongs at the table.

Michigan Afterschool Partnership is recruiting the next cohort of young leaders ready to help shape the future of before-school, afterschool and summer programs across Southeast Michigan.

If you’re 14–18 and live in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw or Wayne County, this is your chance to turn your ideas into action.

As part of the cohort, you’ll help reimagine programs for young people and administer a $2 million grant program alongside leading funders — while building leadership skills and connecting with other young people from across the region.

And your time matters: participants can receive up to $3,500 for full participation in the two-year leadership experience.

Your voice. Your community. Your move.

Apply by September 9th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KJQCPGM

Know a young person who should be part of this? Tag them, share this post or send it their way.

08/19/2026

Through With Youth For Youth, young leaders across Western New York and Southeast Michigan helped direct more than $4 million toward afterschool and youth sports opportunities.

Now, they’re proposing a session for SXSW EDU 2027 to share what they learned about youth leadership, shared power and what meaningful youth-adult partnership can look like in practice.

Help put their voices in the room.

❤️ Vote for the WYFY PanelPicker proposal by Aug. 23rd: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1785114963747001y9mw

08/15/2026

With Youth For Youth gave young people across Western New York and Southeast Michigan the opportunity to direct more than $4 million toward programs for young people.

Their proposed SXSW EDU 2027 session would bring those young leaders to the stage to share what they learned about youth-adult partnership, trust and sharing power.

Help get them there!

❤️ Vote for the proposal by Aug. 23rd: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1785114963747001y9mw

08/14/2026

Connected, employer-informed training pathways can help job seekers turn new skills into lasting careers.

In this Economy Builders story from the Center for Regional Strategies (CRS), Tom Ulbrich, president and CEO of Goodwill of Western New York, and graduates of its Goodskills Career Builder program share how employer-informed training and continued coaching are connecting people to careers in manufacturing and technology. Learn more about Economy Builders and CRS: https://centerforregionalstrategies.org/builders/

🎥 Watch their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwXwG0v3_S4

08/09/2026

We’re proud to see the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc.’s Caring Together initiative featured on the front page of The Buffalo News.

Supported by a $1.4 million, three-year grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Caring Together helps caregivers access resources, respite, connection and support while expanding opportunities for faith communities and local partners to build stronger networks of care.

Caregivers often spend their time caring for others. This work helps ensure they have a community caring for them, too.

Check out the News Subscriber content at https://bit.ly/4hOigLh.

08/07/2026

In this Economy Builders story from the Center for Regional Strategies (CRS), Alaina Smith, principal of Hydras Engineering, shares how the Greater Buffalo Small Business Development Center supported the growth of her business and helped her obtain her Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification.
Learn more about Economy Builders and CRS: https://centerforregionalstrategies.org/builders/

🎥 Watch her story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_asKKFmtnI