The Buffalo Bills are providing $50,000 to the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy through the NFL Foundation – LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program to fund a field refurbishment project at Ralph Wilson Park in Buffalo, New York. This grant will fund the installation of scoreboards and bleachers at the football field in Ralph Wilson Park, which serves more than 500 local youth athletes.
"Being able to practice, play and compete on safe and accessible playing fields is a critical element of any young athlete's sports journey," said Preston Teague, Buffalo Bills Sr. Director of Youth Football and Programs. "The football field at Ralph Wilson Park will provide an incredible opportunity for thousands of children in the Buffalo community to play the game that we all love for decades to come. We are extremely proud to partner with the NFL Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy on this project and look forward to seeing teams competing on the fields in the near future."
For more than two decades, the NFL and LISC have partnered to help youth stay active and healthy by creating safe places to play through the development of community football fields. Since the program's inception, over $65 million has been distributed to community organizations and schools across the country, resulting in the creation or refurbishment of more than 450 football fields nationwide.
This year, more than $3 million has been awarded to help fund and refurbish football fields in 16 cities and towns across the country, including Buffalo.
"For more than 25 years, the NFL Foundation and LISC have helped our youth stay healthy and have fun by developing community football fields through the Grassroots Field Grant Program," said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher. "The NFL is proud to use its platform to support communities nationwide, and we're excited to continue growing our impact in the years ahead."
Through the Grassroots Field Grant Program, LISC identifies local nonprofit and community-based organizations interested in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, the local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their communities. The local agencies oversee the construction, maintenance, and programming of the fields.
The 2025 Grassroots funding cycle will begin on December 15, 2025, and the deadline for proposal submissions is March 30, 2026. Additional details can be found here.
Additional quotes:
Katie Campos, Executive Director, Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy
"Ralph Wilson believed in Buffalo, he believed in the Bills, and he believed in the power of community. This park is his legacy — a place meant to bring people together. We are deeply grateful to the Buffalo Bills and the NFL Foundation for carrying that legacy forward with this investment in our football field and players. Their investment not only strengthens Ralph Wilson Park but also recognizes the incredible partners who bring it to life every day — the West Side Little League Football leaders, families, and young athletes who are true champions of this park. This support honors the vision of our community and The Ralph Wilson Foundation and helps ensure that every child and family who comes here feels the pride, connection, and possibility he championed."
Cat Rivera, West Side Little League Football President
"West Side Little League Football has called this park home for 60 years. We've raised our families here, and this recognition gives us the fuel to keep supporting them. For our kids, this partnership is bigger than football — it shows them the Buffalo Bills see them, believe in them, and are investing in their futures. We're grateful for the Bills' commitment to our young athletes."
