Photo Credit: Katie Ambrose
Mary Wilson, a Life Trustee with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, will receive this year’s Daemen University Community Excellence Award at the Annual Scholarship Gala – the university’s premier event to raise scholarship support for students – on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the Jazzboline Ballroom.
The Community Excellence Award recognizes a community member who serves as an exemplary leader and who defines the spirit of Daemen.
“This award serves as an expression of Daemen’s gratitude for Mary Wilson’s contributions to the greater community and her passion to make a difference,” President Gary A. Olson said.
Wilson currently serves as one of the three Life Trustees appointed to guide the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, a grantmaking organization established by her late husband Ralph Wilson. The Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in Ralph Wilson’s hometown of Southeast Michigan and Western New York, the home of the Buffalo Bills, the team he founded in 1959.
During Ralph’s ownership of the Buffalo Bills, Mary Wilson established the Western New York Girls in Sports program in 2006 and continues to bring together more than 200 girls, ages 9-12, to participate in various sports taught by young athletes from local universities and sports clubs.
Wilson is a supporter of many Buffalo organizations including the Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Camp Timbercrest and Seven Hills, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Hospice of Western New York, First Tee, Oishei Children’s Hospital, SPCA Serving Erie County, and FeedMore WNY.
The Buffalo History Museum displays Ralph’s Hall of Fame jacket and the AFL ring and bracelet of his daughter, who was the first female scout of the NFL, which Mary Wilson donated. She also donated Ralph’s naval uniform and medals to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, along with letters to his father while he was away in WWII.
Mary Wilson has always had a passion for sports. She holds a degree in physical education from Trinity University. She is a former board member of the USTA Tennis Foundation and played in the Wimbledon Championships in 1976. Wilson also served as the President of the National Senior Women’s Tennis Association, playing in many international events, and becoming ranked number one in the 60 and over.