Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Tom Golisano, the founder of the human resource company Paychex, has announced the formation of an alliance of children’s hospitals. The Golisano Children’s Alliance will include four existing Golisano Children’s Hospitals and six additional children’s hospitals, including Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Derry Township. “I am proud to announce the newly formed Golisano Children’s Alliance,” Golisano said in an announcement in Rochester, New York that was live-streamed on Tuesday morning. “The Golisano Children’s Alliance is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Children’s hospitals that bear the Golisano name, dedicated to elevating pediatric care by expanding services, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that children have access to the highest quality medical attention close to home.” The four existing Golisano children’s hospitals include: Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York Upstate Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York Golisano Children’s Hospital of Lee Health in Fort Myers and Naples, Florida Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York Golisano announced he will donate $253 million to the six new children’s hospitals that will join the alliance: $25 million: University of Vermont Children’s Hospital in Burlington, Vermont $28 million: West Virginia Medicine Children’s Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia $50 million: Connecticut Children’s Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut $50 million: Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania (Derry Township) $50 million: University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky $50 million: University of Maryland Children’s Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland Officials said the new alliance will be a collaborative network designed to share resources and expand access to essential pediatric care. “I am fortunate to be able to help others in this way, and I’m looking forward to seeing what these hospitals can achieve together,” Golisano said. In a news release. “Also, I plan to continue making similar transformative gifts that will strengthen this new alliance.” Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is located on the campus of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine. The children’s hospital provides advanced treatments for complex medical conditions like heart disease and cancer. The children’s hospital has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and a Level I pediatric trauma center. Golisano’s contribution represents the largest single philanthropic gift since 1963, when the M.S. Hershey Foundation donated $50 million to help launch the hospital. Penn State said it is preparing for the 2026 announcement of a new fundraising campaign, which includes a focus on the health of the commonwealth. “The new gift from Golisano will significantly enhance pediatric care, research and community outreach across central Pennsylvania, and it is expected to inspire further commitments during the University’s new fundraising campaign,” the organization said. Penn State Health said these are the areas of future investment: Advancing health equity in rural communities Enhancing behavioral health care for children and adolescents Strengthening pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery programs Enriching pediatric neuroscience care Expanding and enhancing neonatal intensive care units across the health system Training the next generation of pediatricians and specialty providers Fueling research and discovery to find new treatments and cures Enhancing a fully integrated outpatient care program for pediatrics “This investment reflects an unwavering belief in our mission to transform health through groundbreaking research and education,” Dr. Karen Kim, dean of Penn State College of Medicine, said in the news release. “It empowers us to uncover new cures and nurture the next generation of pediatric specialists to benefit our communities, our region and beyond.”
