Independent Health Foundation Receives $375,000 Grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to Expand Access to Soccer for Thousands of Children in Western New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 20, 2026) – As the World Cup leaves millions inspired across North America, thousands more Western New York children will soon have the opportunity to experience the sport firsthand through Independent Health Foundation’s Soccer for Success program.

The Independent Health Foundation today announced it has received a $375,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to support its Soccer for Success program, the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s nationally recognized youth development initiative. From 2027 through 2029, the funding will provide approximately 4,500 youth ages 5 to 13 with free soccer programming and access to fresh produce provided through the program. The grant removes financial barriers to participation, ensuring more children can experience the lifelong benefits of organized sports.

Soccer for Success uses soccer as a platform to promote physical activity while developing teamwork, leadership, confidence, resilience, and mental and emotional well-being. The program is offered at no cost to participating families through schools and community organizations nationwide, including throughout Western New York.

The investment builds on findings from the Wilson Foundation-commissioned State of Play 2025 report, conducted by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, which identified cost and access as two of the greatest barriers preventing children from participating in organized sports. As soccer participation continues to grow nationwide, the grant will help ensure the excitement generated by the World Cup translates into lasting opportunities for local children to stay active, develop new skills and build meaningful connections through the game.

“The World Cup has inspired millions of people to see what makes soccer such a powerful and unifying sport, and we have an incredible opportunity to turn that excitement into something lasting for children right here in Western New York,” said Carrie Meyer, Executive Director of the Independent Health Foundation. “With support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, 4,500 young people will have the opportunity to get active, build confidence, form meaningful connections and develop healthy habits through Soccer for Success. Every child deserves the opportunity to participate, learn and grow through sports, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.”

The funding will support coaches, equipment, curriculum, program delivery and the distribution of fresh produce to participating families, allowing Independent Health Foundation to expand Soccer for Success throughout Western New York while maintaining the high-quality experience that has made the program a national model for youth development.

“Independent Health Foundation has developed a strong program that uses soccer not only to promote physical activity, but also to foster teamwork, resilience, confidence and a sense of belonging,” said Kari Pardoe, Senior Program Officer of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “By supporting Soccer for Success, we are helping ensure more children have the opportunity to play and develop important life skills.”

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has made youth sports and recreation a cornerstone of its philanthropy, investing in organizations and programs that expand access to play and help strengthen communities throughout Western New York and Southeast Michigan. This grant builds on the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring every child can experience the lifelong benefits of sports.

For more information about Soccer for Success or to learn how schools and community organizations can participate, visit www.buffalosoccerforsuccess.com.

The Independent Health Foundation, founded in 1992, works to improve the health and well-being of Western New York residents through awareness, prevention, education and other programs focused on community health priorities. For more information about the Independent Health Foundation, visit www.independenthealthfoundation.org.

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 the devotion of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson provided 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. Based in Detroit, the Foundation began with 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 rcwjrf.org.