Golisano Invests $125 Million, Expanding Golisano Children’s Alliance

Philanthropist and entrepreneur Tom Golisano announced a $125 million investment in three children’s hospitals, expanding a nationwide network aimed at improving pediatric healthcare access and outcomes.

Tom Golisano

The funding will support Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $50 million, Dayton Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $40 million, and Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with $35 million. The additions bring the total number of hospitals in the Golisano Children’s Alliance to 15 nationwide.

The alliance, launched in 2025, is designed to connect children’s hospitals through shared resources, collaboration and innovation to enhance care for children and families. Officials say the initiative focuses on expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home.

As part of the investment, each hospital will incorporate the Golisano name into its facilities. Akron Children’s Hospital will rename its Akron campus “Akron Children’s, Golisano Campus,” while Dayton Children’s Hospital will designate its main site as the “Golisano Comprehensive Care Campus.” Avera Health plans to name its children’s hospital “Avera Golisano Children’s Hospital,” set to open in a new patient care tower in 2027.

The latest expansion builds on decades of investment by Golisano in his hometown of Rochester and across upstate New York, where his philanthropic footprint has reshaped pediatric healthcare infrastructure.

In Rochester, the Golisano Children's Hospital serves as the region’s only dedicated children’s hospital and a critical referral center for a 17-county area in the Finger Lakes region. The facility treats tens of thousands of children each year and offers specialized services ranging from neonatal intensive care to pediatric cardiac and trauma care.

Golisano’s contributions were instrumental in the hospital’s development, including major donations that helped fund its expansion into a modern, freestanding pediatric facility. The hospital has since earned national recognition for several pediatric specialties and serves as a cornerstone of healthcare in western New York.

Beyond Rochester, Golisano’s investments extend across upstate New York. Facilities bearing his name include the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse and the Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo, both of which are part of a broader effort to strengthen regional access to pediatric care. These hospitals collectively form a regional network that complements the national alliance by improving care coordination and access throughout New York state.

In addition to hospital funding, Golisano has supported specialized programs in Rochester, including expanded pediatric behavioral health services and family support initiatives designed to address both medical and non-medical needs of patients and caregivers.

Golisano said the continued expansion reflects both a personal mission and a long-term strategy to improve outcomes for children nationwide.

“All three of these hospitals provide outstanding care for the children in their communities, and we look forward to seeing what they can do with the added resources,” he said in a statement.

Erica Dayton, executive director of the Golisano Foundation, said the investments will help millions of children gain access to advanced medical services while strengthening collaboration among hospitals in the alliance.

The Golisano Children’s Alliance was established in October 2025 as part of a broader $403 million philanthropic commitment. With the latest announcement, total funding for the initiative has reached $578 million.

Golisano, founder of Paychex, has donated more than $1 billion to philanthropic causes spanning healthcare, education and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Officials said the long-term goal is to expand the alliance to 40 hospitals over the next several years, with additional partnerships expected to be announced in the coming year.