Catalysts for Community: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Leverage Funds

An aging ballfield at Marcus Park sits quietly between neighborhood homes and the nearby Washington West Elementary School. For years, it has been mostly overlooked – a place with potential but little life.

Until now.

Now, Marcus Park is home to an inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities – along with a dog park, a youth ballfield,  picnic areas and a new connection to the community’s trail system.

The revitalization was part of a more than $2 million project that includes collaboration by CRCF, Intandem and the City of Olean. The transformation didn’t happen overnight, and it surely didn’t happen alone.

Behind the playground is a larger story about partnership, vision  and a type of funding designed to breathe fresh air into new ideas in rural communities.

Through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Leverage Fund established at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, strategic investments help local organizations unlock larger funding needed to turn community projects into reality. These investments can help nonprofits and municipalities strengthen grant applications, demonstrate local support and unlock increase opportunities for outside funding.

Matching funds for the inclusive playground were provided by the Leverage Fund to the tune of $23,800.

Also in Olean, Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. is undertaking a renovation project that will convert previously underused space into a training and wellness center designed to support both healthcare professionals and community members.

The project, which received a $25,000 grant from the Leverage Fund, will transform the organization’s lower level into a fully accessible, multi-purpose space. Planned upgrades include installation of an ADA-compliant elevator, accessible restrooms, improved HVAC systems and technology-enable classrooms. A teaching kitchen will also be incorporated to support nutrition education and wellness programming.

Once complete, the space will host a variety of programs, including EMS and paramedic education, youth-focused initiatives such as Kids in the Kitchen and home-alone safety courses.

For a rural region where access to healthcare services and workforce development opportunities can be limited, the project is designed to expand both professional training and community programming.

Projects like this represent an important investment in long-term community well-being. Leverage funding has helped the organization advance the project by demonstrating local commitment.

While some projects focus on recreation or health services, others are exploring how creativity and culture can support economic vitality. In downtown Salamanca, an initiative, led by the Tri-County Arts Council - will blend public art, entrepreneurship and community engagement.

Painting with a Purpose will bring artists, business, tourism organizations and educators together to create a series of murals throughout the city. The project received an initial grant of $20,000 from the Leverage Fund.

Plans call for eight permanent murals and eight movable installations that can be displayed throughout the community.

Organizers see the project as both a cultural initiative and an economic development effort. Public art has the potential to draw visitors, increase foot traffic for local businesses and strengthen the identity of a downtown district. The initiative aims to create opportunities for artists while also encouraging residents and visitors to spend more time exploring Salamanca’s downtown.

The first of these murals – a portrait of Chief Cornplanter – was finished in August of 2025, sitting on the side of Petruzzi Insurance Agency in Salamanca.

“The mural will educate the 3.5 million visitors to the city on the artist, history of the art, the business, Seneca Culture and the history of Salamanca,” said Salamanca Chamber of Commerce CEO John Sheehan. “Once the murals are completed, we will create a map to draw those visitors throughout our city to improve economic development.”

Taken together, these projects illustrate how strategic early investment can unlock larger opportunities.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Leverage Funds were created with the understanding that many transformative projects begin as ideas that simply need momentum. A timely investment can help organizations demonstrate readiness and unlock larger funding opportunities.

Across Cattaraugus County, that approach is helping bring a range of community priorities to life.

Each project addresses a different need – recreation, health, economic activity and cultural engagement – but they share a common thread. They reflect communities identifying  opportunities for growth and working to turn those ideas into tangible improvements. Through the partnership with CRCF, the Leverage Fund serves as a catalyst for that progress. They help ensure that local vision and collaboration are met with the resources needed to move projects forward.

The results may take many forms, but together they represent something larger – the steady, collaborative work of building stronger communities across the region.