At the Hospice Foundation of Western New York

At the Hospice Foundation of Western New York, the feeling is much the same.
“While it is certainly a sad time for this community, for us we also see it as a time to step back and reflect on a life well-led,” said Patrick Flynn, the
foundation’s president. “What Mr. Wilson’s generosity has meant to our families and patients is immeasurable.”
The Wilsons donated money to build Hospice’s counseling center and the inpatient unit that bears their names.
“He cared so deeply about this community and the people in this community,” Flynn said. “And with so many excellent nonprofit organizations here, how
grateful and fortunate we are that he picked Hospice to help.”
Flynn knew Wilson personally and had the chance to watch the Bills play from the owner’s box a few times.
“He would always slide the glass open to get the ‘stadium feel’ and hear the fans,” Flynn said. “He cared so deeply about the well-being of this
community. I’m not sure people know that.”
The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County recognized Wilson’s generosity this week by changing the header image on its Twitter page to a photo of the late
Bills owner. Last fall, the United Way celebrated its 40-year relationship with the Bills organization.
“We could not appreciate more the relationship we have had with Ralph and Mary Wilson over the years,” said Michael Weiner, United Way president. “It
started in 1974 with player representatives doing PSAs on behalf of the United Way, and those continue to this day.”
Weiner listed a host of programs, many devoted to health, nutrition and fitness, that the Wilsons supported through the years. They included the “Hometown
Huddle” youth nutrition program, construction of a playground at a Lackawanna charter school, and Mary Wilson’s Closing the Gap initiative to encourage
girls to participate more in sports.
“The last 24 hours have been about Ralph being a unique owner and his role in the NFL, as it should be,” Weiner said, “but the reality is he and his wife
were very involved in the well-being of this community and very philanthropic. I think their goal with us was to bring joy and health to the youth of this
community.”