Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Supports Play in Michigan 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. Of the investment, $1,913,587 will enable 50,925 kids in 153 schools and out of school time youth serving organizations in Southeast Michigan to experience safe and healthy play every day as a result of this investment.

The award will allow Playworks Michigan
to vary its service offering to schools in the community and roll out existing
services to new schools. Over 1,095 school staff and other youth serving
organizations in both communities will be trained by Playworks as a result of
this funding.

“We are
excited to partner again with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to ensure
50,925 kids experience safe and healthy play in Southeast Michigan,” said
Angela Rogensues, Executive Director of Playworks Michigan. “We will also be
applying years of experience working with elementary schools to support early
childhood education of three and four-year-old children for the first
time.”

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has supported Playworks for the past two years with a $1.14 million grant. Thanks to this initial funding, over 21,567 kids in 52 schools in Southeast Michigan are experiencing safe and healthy play every day.

“We are serious about the importance of
play in our communities,” said Jim Boyle, vice president of programs and
communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “Playworks thoughtful approach
to recess and play for elementary students, and now even younger children, has
the power to improve the physical and social-emotional well-being of children
in Southeast Michigan and Western New York.”

About Playworks:

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 60,000 children kids in 120 elementary schools nationwide to experience safe and healthy play every day by 2020.

About 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

###