In what may be an unprecedented drive to lift up the communities of Western New York and Southeastern Michigan, the foundation for late Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. has agreed to donate $1.2 billion to the two regions over the next 20 years.
“The trustees of The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today released the organization’s Mission Statement, outlining the vision of the organization as it was intended by its founder, the late Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. The Foundation was funded with $1.2 billion from the irrevocable trust created by Mr. Wilson, founder of the Buffalo Bills franchise, who passed away in March 2014.”
Per Mr. Wilson’s directive, the Foundation’s $1.2 billion corpus, and related investment income, will be spent over the course of 20 years.”
Wilson passed away in March of last year at the age of 95. Though, the football pioneer made sure to direct those in charge of his estate to move forward with this awe-inspiring plan.
Both the regions Wilson’s foundation will look to help with that $1.2 billion are about as economically depressed as it comes. We already know about the issues Detroit and its surrounding areas are having. However, Buffalo and Western New York has seen a major downturn in its economic standing due to a down-tick in manufacturing jobs over the years.
“Ralph saw firsthand the impact of his generosity in his lifetime,” said Mary M. Wilson, wife of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. “Always thinking of others even in his own legacy, his hope with this trust was that the Foundation’s work may make a direct impact in the lifetimes of those who knew him best.”
The goal to have this large sum of money allocated over the next two decades is a direct result of the late Wilson attempting to make sure that those who knew him best in the two regions he called home feel the impact of such a generous donation.
It’s a long-lasting initiative by a man that has in the past acted as a godsend for the communities he’s been involved in. Long after Wilson’s departure from this life, his impact will be felt by countless millions.
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