News & Updates

Project Play Western New York 8/14/19 Project Play Western New York 8/14/19

Detroit to Host the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit in September; First Speakers Announced

The fifth Project Play Summit will take place September 17-18 at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, MI, marking the first time the summit has been scheduled outside of Washington, DC.

Project Play Western New York 6/28/19 Project Play Western New York 6/28/19

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Announces Grant Awards Totaling $1.3 Million from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced that 57 Western New York organizations will receive a total of $1.3 million in grant awards from endowment funds created to carry on the legacy of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.

Project Play Western New York 6/26/19 Project Play Western New York 6/26/19

WNY Families Invited to Free Summer Track Series Wednesdays in July

Project Play Western New York will be hosting a free Summer Track Series on Wednesdays in July starting July 10.

Project Play Western New York 6/19/19 Project Play Western New York 6/19/19

Hundreds Join Community Conversations

It has been a busy spring for Project Play WNY! The working groups developed some exciting pilot programs that were launched to gauge the interest within the Western New York youth sports community.

Project Play Western New York 5/14/19 Project Play Western New York 5/14/19

Talking Cities: Priced Out, Pushed Out, Stuck In/Burnt Out

Listen to our Director, Bridget Niland, discuss our initiative with Matt Enstice, President & CEO of Buffalo Niagara Medical Center.

Project Play Western New York 2/6/19 Project Play Western New York 2/6/19

Project Play Western New York: 2019 Community Conversations

We are organizing events to bring together individuals and organizations throughout our region to address the calls for action in the State of Play WNY report.

Project Play Western New York 1/14/19 Project Play Western New York 1/14/19

KaBOOM! and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Renew Partnership to Bring Play to More Communities in Need

Building upon the initial Built to Play Initiative, another $1 million is now available across Western New York and Southeast Michigan for creative ideas that incorporate play into everyday life in unexpected places

Project Play Western New York 10/29/18 Project Play Western New York 10/29/18

$100 Million Investment in WNY

In honor of what would have been Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s 100th birthday, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced a $100 million investment in Western New York’s parks and recreation infrastructure.

Project Play Western New York 10/29/18 Project Play Western New York 10/29/18

Project Play Summit a Success

Project Play WNY had a strong showing of participants and honored guests at the national Project Play Summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

Project Play Western New York 10/1/18 Project Play Western New York 10/1/18

State of Play, Part 2: Why making kids specialize in one sport is a mistake

Former pro football player Thurman Thomas and other experts explain why early sports specialization may not be a good idea for our youth.

Project Play Western New York 10/1/18 Project Play Western New York 10/1/18

Wilson Foundation to fund nine new public play spaces in WNY

As part of their Built to Play initiative, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation will be funding the development of nine innovative new play spaces.

Project Play Western New York 10/1/18 Project Play Western New York 10/1/18

Built To Play grants bringing new skateparks to WNY

To give kids more opportunities to engage in active play, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation teamed up with the Tony Hawk Foundation to build skateparks in underserved communities of Western New York.