$253 million latest gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano to benefit children’s hospitals

Tom Golisano, renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, has announced a landmark $253 million investment in children’s hospitals across the United States, making it one of the largest gifts of its kind in recent history.

This latest initiative expands Golisano’s total charitable contributions to over $1 billion, with a major focus on enhancing pediatric care, accelerating medical innovation, and ensuring equitable access to top-tier healthcare for children and families nationwide.

A centerpiece of Golisano’s philanthropy is a $50 million gift to the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, now the largest philanthropic contribution in their history.

In recognition, the children’s hospital inside UMMS has been renamed the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital (UMGCH). This transformative donation will:

Unite pediatric inpatient and outpatient services in a new, family-centered facility within the forthcoming Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine
Support new programs in gene and cell therapy, making UMGCH a regional leader for advanced pediatric treatment
Expand critical care and complex surgical programs, including the NICU, PICU, and rare disease treatment units
Establish a comprehensive pediatric gene therapy program, offering FDA-approved, potentially curative therapies for over 20 rare childhood diseases
Strengthen community outreach, access, and workforce development in pediatric healthcare

UMGCH already leads Maryland in advanced pediatric care, operating the state’s most significant Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and pioneering treatments such as pediatric double-heart-lung transplants and cutting-edge stem cell therapies.

Launching the Golisano Children’s Alliance:

With these new gifts, Golisano is expanding his vision nationwide. Six additional hospitals are joining the newly-launched Golisano Children’s Alliance and will incorporate his name:

University of Vermont Children’s Hospital – $25 million
West Virginia Medicine Children’s Hospital – $28 million
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – $50 million
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital – $50 million
University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital – $50 million
University of Maryland Children’s Hospital – $50 million

These hospitals join established Golisano Children’s Hospitals in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse (NY), and Lee Health in Florida. The alliance will foster collaboration, research sharing, joint advocacy, and optimized care models to benefit children nationwide while allowing member hospitals to retain independent management.

Tom Golisano founded Paychex, Inc., and built a fortune, much of which he has strategically donated to education, pediatric healthcare, and advancing inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Golisano Foundation, established in 1985, is among the largest U.S. private foundations supporting disability inclusion and health, with over $120 million in assets.

Golisano is also the founder of the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and the author of two books—“Built Not Born” and “The Italian Kid Did It!”—reflecting his passion for entrepreneurial education and civic leadership.

Senior leaders from UMMS, UMGCH, and alliance partners underscore that Golisano’s historic commitment comes at a crucial time, as children’s health nationwide faces unprecedented challenges. The expanded alliance, combined with UMMS’s academic leadership and collaborative mission, is set to shape the future of pediatric healthcare: improving patient outcomes, accelerating scientific discovery, and supporting communities in Maryland and nationwide.

Golisano describes this philanthropic work as “among the most fulfilling” of his life, emphasizing the alliance’s role in supporting innovative care, community impact, and brighter futures for all children.