The Ralph R. Wilkins Foundation was established in 1981 by Ralph R. Wilkins who was then in his 88th year. In 1982 the Foundation received federal and New York State recognition to operate as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation.

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Following Mr. Walkins death in 1983 and the demise in 1986 of Carrie M. Wilkins, his wife of over 66 years, the Foundation was funded and set out to pursue its founder's community-oriented, charitable, educational, religious, literary and cultural goals.