Golisano Expands Children's Hospital Alliance with $100 Million Gift

ROCHESTER, NY – December 29, 2025 – Philanthropist and Paychex founder Tom Golisano has injected another $100 million into pediatric healthcare, welcoming two new hospitals into his rapidly growing national network. Arkansas Children's and Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia will each receive $50 million, becoming the newest members of the Golisano Children's Alliance, a collaborative initiative launched in 2025 to elevate pediatric care across the United States.

The massive investment brings the total number of hospitals in the Alliance to 12 and marks a significant step toward Golisano's ambitious goal of creating an interconnected system of elite pediatric centers. The move underscores a powerful trend in modern healthcare, where strategic private philanthropy is increasingly becoming a primary driver of innovation, access, and systemic improvement in specialized medical fields.

The Billion-Dollar Benevolence

Behind this latest nine-figure donation is Tom Golisano, a self-made billionaire whose approach to philanthropy is as methodical and results-driven as the business career that enabled it. Having contributed over $1 billion to various causes, with a significant focus on healthcare and education, Golisano's giving is guided by a philosophy he has often shared: "the only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away."

His philanthropic journey, which placed him at No. 8 on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's 2024 list of America's biggest donors, is deeply personal. As the father of a son with an intellectual disability, Golisano established his foundation in 1985 with a primary mission to support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This personal connection has fueled his passion for improving healthcare access and quality, leading to transformative gifts that have established multiple Golisano Children's Hospitals in New York and Florida even before the Alliance was formed.

Unlike donors who simply write checks, Golisano applies his business acumen to his charitable work, treating each gift as a strategic investment. He conducts rigorous due diligence, evaluating an organization's leadership, mission, and long-term sustainability. By often providing unrestricted funds, he empowers institutions to allocate resources where they are most needed, fostering innovation and ensuring that his contributions create lasting, systemic change rather than temporary fixes.

Local Impact, National Vision

The immediate impact of the $100 million investment will be felt most profoundly in Arkansas and Georgia. For both institutions, the $50 million contribution represents the single largest philanthropic gift in their respective histories, serving as a powerful catalyst for growth and enhanced patient care.

In Little Rock, the Arkansas Children's campus will be renamed the Arkansas Children's Golisano Campus. The funds are earmarked to support a monumental $371 million, 10-year system-wide growth plan. This ambitious strategy includes significant program development, recruitment of top medical talent, and major facility upgrades designed to meet the escalating health needs of children in the region. Leaders at the hospital noted the gift is a crucial investment that ensures access to world-class medical care and solidifies its role as a pediatric center of excellence for America's heartland.

Similarly, the hospital in Augusta, Georgia, will be renamed Wellstar Golisano Children's Hospital of Georgia. The investment will enable a significant expansion of clinical services, strengthen its partnership with Augusta University, and ensure that more children and families across Georgia have access to the highest quality medical care close to home. The gift is seen as a foundational element that will expand the hospital's capacity for compassionate, innovative care for generations to come.

In joining the Alliance, both hospitals will not only receive a financial infusion but will also gain a national platform and a network of peers dedicated to advancing pediatric medicine.

The Alliance Advantage: A New Model for Care

The Golisano Children's Alliance, first launched in October 2025 with an initial ten hospitals, is more than just a funding mechanism. It represents a new, collaborative model for healthcare delivery in an increasingly complex landscape. The Alliance functions as a national consortium where member hospitals, while remaining independent, can share expertise, collaborate on research, and standardize best practices to improve outcomes for all patients.

Benefits of membership extend far beyond the initial financial gift. The structure is designed to foster a culture of shared learning and collective problem-solving. The first official symposium for the Alliance is already scheduled for May 2026, providing a formal venue for leaders and clinicians from the 12 member hospitals to exchange knowledge on everything from innovative surgical techniques to effective patient-centered care programs.

This collaborative spirit is central to Golisano's long-term vision. With a stated goal of expanding the network to 40 hospitals over the next several years, and more partnerships anticipated in 2026, the Alliance is poised to create a powerful, unified voice for pediatric advocacy and a robust infrastructure for medical innovation. By connecting hospitals from different regions—spanning from New York and Pennsylvania to Florida, Arkansas, and Georgia—the network aims to break down geographical silos and ensure that a child's access to elite care isn't determined by their zip code. This strategic expansion is creating a national footprint that could set a new standard for pediatric healthcare systems nationwide.