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Paychex founder Tom Golisano has committed $253 million to six hospitals that will join a children's health alliance. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative) Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative Paychex founder Tom Golisano has committed $253 million to six university-based children’s hospitals across the country. The six hospitals will join four other Golisano Children’s hospitals to form the ten-institution Golisano Children’s Alliance that was launched yesterday. The alliance’s vision is to build a “nationally recognized network of children’s hospitals that exemplifies excellence, dignity, and innovation in pediatric healthcare. It will emphasize collaboration and shared learning, aimed at creating a future “where every child receives world-class care, regardless of where they live.” The six new hospitals are: Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, Conn. ($50 million) Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Hershey, Pa. ($50 million) University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Lexington, Ky. ($50 million) University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, Baltimore ($50 million) University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, Burlington, Vt. ($25 million) West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia ($28 million). They will join four other hospitals that have already received multi-million dollar support from the Rochester, New York philanthropist — Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester ($36 million); Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse ($16 million); Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, Florida ($20 million); and Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, which will be renamed Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on January 1 ($50 million). As part of their agreements to join the Alliance, each of the six newly funded hospitals will incorporate the name “Golisano” in a renaming that will occur in the upcoming months. For some, like the University of Kentucky’s children’s hospital, the gift was the largest in history. In a news release, UK President Eli Capilouto said, “Mr. Golisano’s life has been about grit and grace, and that’s exactly what we see every day here in Kentucky. His generosity is a testament to his faith in what we provide to Kentucky and its children — a promise to extend compassionate care, to more patients, closer to home. We’ll translate his gift into acts of goodness to ensure a healthier, wealthier and wiser Kentucky.” The new alliance "aims to elevate pediatric care by expanding services, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that children and families have access to the highest quality medical attention close to home," according to the Golisano Foundation. Becoming part of the alliance is intended to enable participating hospitals provide greater care, share best practices, develop new treatments, work together to gain more research funding, and advocate for better national reimbursement rates and healthcare policies. MORE FOR YOU All ten of the hospitals will continue to operate independently as part of their individual healthcare systems. Golisano’s donation, which will be paid out over a period of five years, can be used at each hospital’s discretion with ongoing input from Golisano and his team. At Tuesday’s news conference, Golisano indicated that more hospitals are likely to be added to the Alliance in the future. “I’ve been, over the years, fortunate enough to be able to support many special organizations within our community and other communities,” Golisano said. “But few things have brought me as much pride, as much fulfillment, as investing in children. These hospitals represented here today represent hope.” Tom Golisano, who earned an AA degree from SUNY’s Alfred State College, founded the payroll company Paychex in 1971, serving as its CEO until 2004. In 1985, he established the Golisano Foundation with a focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A former owner of the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, Golisano ran for governor three times under the banner of the Independence Party of New York. Golisano’s philanthropic contributions, both personal and through his foundation, now total more than $1 billion for hospitals, disability services, animal welfare, educational institutions, and numerous other organizations. Forbes pegs his current wealth at $6 billion. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
