Golisano Pledges $100M to Expand Children's Hospital Alliance

ROCHESTER, NY – December 29, 2025 – Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano has announced a monumental $100 million investment to expand his national pediatric healthcare network, with two major children's hospitals in Arkansas and Georgia each receiving $50 million. The gift brings Arkansas Children's in Little Rock and Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta into the Golisano Children's Alliance, a rapidly growing coalition dedicated to improving pediatric care. With these additions, the Alliance now comprises 12 member hospitals across the United States, furthering a vision of collaborative, high-quality care for children and their families.

A Vision for a National Network

Launched in October 2025, the Golisano Children's Alliance represents a paradigm shift in healthcare philanthropy. It moves beyond one-time capital infusions to create a durable, interconnected network of institutions united by a common mission. The Alliance is built on the principles of improving healthcare delivery, fostering innovation, and ensuring that families can access specialized pediatric services without the burden of extensive travel. Member hospitals work together to share best practices, pioneer new treatments, and elevate the standard of care collectively.

This latest investment is a cornerstone of a larger philanthropic blitz by Golisano in 2025, which saw him commit a total of $403 million to elevate pediatric care nationwide. Nine of the twelve current Alliance members joined through this year's strategic investments.

"Children's hospitals are essential to the health and future of our communities, and each one serves families with unique needs and challenges," said Tom Golisano in a statement. "Arkansas Children's and Children's Hospital of Georgia have demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing pediatric care, expanding access, and investing in innovation. I'm proud to support their work and to welcome them into the Golisano Children's Alliance as we continue building a collaborative network focused on improving outcomes for children nationwide."

Boosting Care in the Heartland and the Southeast

The transformative $50 million gifts will directly empower each new member hospital to address the specific health challenges of their regions. In recognition of the partnership, both institutions will integrate the Golisano name. The Arkansas Children's campus in Little Rock will become the Arkansas Children's Golisano Campus, and Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia will be renamed Wellstar Golisano Children's Hospital of Georgia.

For Arkansas Children's, a nationally recognized independent pediatric health system serving the broader heartland, the investment is a critical catalyst for a 10-year system-wide expansion. Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children's, highlighted the urgency of this growth.

"The demand for services continues to change and grow—and we are committed to providing the best care, research and outcomes for the patients we serve," said Doderer. "Mr. Golisano's extraordinary generosity is an investment in Arkansas Children's, ensuring access to the best answers medicine can offer. This gift elevates our work as a pediatric health center of excellence, expanding care close to home for the children of America's heartland."

In Georgia, the funds will fortify Wellstar's role as a cornerstone for pediatric excellence. The hospital is known for its advanced surgical specialties and intensive care units, which produce nationally recognized outcomes for high-acuity cases. The investment will enable the expansion of these compassionate and innovative services to more families across Georgia and beyond.

"We are deeply grateful to Mr. Golisano for his extraordinary gift to improve the health and well-being of children in Georgia and across the country. We are honored to be among the handful of hospitals nationwide that have earned his transformative support," said Ketul J. Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. "Thanks to the power of philanthropy, we can expand the lasting impact of compassionate, innovative care to more children and families across Georgia and far beyond, today and for generations to come."

The Golisano Blueprint for Philanthropy

Tom Golisano, the founder of Paychex, Inc., has a long and distinguished history of applying his entrepreneurial acumen to his philanthropic endeavors. His total giving, which exceeds $1 billion, has left an indelible mark on healthcare, education, and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through his Golisano Foundation, established in 1985.

His approach to pediatric health is particularly strategic. Rather than simply funding disparate projects, Golisano is architecting a national system. By tying significant financial support to membership in the Alliance, he ensures that his investment multiplies in value through collaboration. This model incentivizes hospitals to look beyond their own walls and contribute to a national brain trust focused on solving the most pressing challenges in children's health. Mr. Golisano has emphasized that these investments reflect an ongoing effort to understand and respond to the evolving needs of children's hospitals across the country.

The Future of the Alliance

The addition of the Arkansas and Georgia hospitals is a significant step, but it is far from the final one. The long-term vision for the Golisano Children's Alliance is ambitious: to expand the network to 40 member hospitals over the next several years. According to the announcement, Mr. Golisano is already actively building relationships with other children's hospitals, with additional partnerships anticipated as early as 2026.

This forward-looking strategy signals a sustained, long-term commitment to reshaping the landscape of American pediatric medicine. By fostering a powerful network that exemplifies excellence, dignity, and innovation, the Golisano Children's Alliance is poised to become an increasingly influential force in shaping a healthier future for children across the country.