Golisano's $100M Gift Expands National Pediatric Health Alliance

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – December 29, 2025 – Paychex founder and philanthropist Tom Golisano has injected another $100 million into his ambitious effort to build a national pediatric healthcare network, announcing transformative $50 million gifts to Arkansas Children's in Little Rock and Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta. The investment brings both institutions into the Golisano Children's Alliance, expanding the collaborative to 12 member hospitals across the United States.

The move marks a significant step in Golisano's strategic vision to reshape pediatric care. As part of the agreement, both hospitals will adopt 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, visibly linking them to the growing national network.

"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 the announcement. "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."

A Vision for a National Network

This $100 million investment is not an isolated act of generosity but a calculated move in a much larger philanthropic strategy. It is part of a staggering $403 million commitment Golisano made to pediatric care in 2025 alone, aimed at building the Golisano Children's Alliance. The Alliance unites a dozen independently owned hospitals under a shared mission: to improve care delivery, accelerate innovation through collaboration, and ensure families can access high-quality pediatric services close to home.

The current members of the Alliance now span from New York to Florida and west to Arkansas, including:
* Arkansas Children's Golisano Campus (Little Rock, AR)
* Wellstar Golisano Children's Hospital of Georgia (Augusta, GA)
* Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center (Rochester, NY)
* Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital (Syracuse, NY)
* Golisano Children's Hospital of Lee Health (Fort Myers, FL)
* Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
* Golisano Medical Center at Connecticut Children's (Hartford, CT)
* Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital (Hershey, PA)
* Golisano Children's at UK (Lexington, KY)
* University of Maryland Golisano Children's Hospital (Baltimore, MD)
* Golisano Children's Hospital at University of Vermont Health (Burlington, VT)
* WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital (Morgantown, WV)

Golisano, whose personal fortune is estimated at over $5 billion, has a long-term goal of expanding this network to 40 hospitals in the coming years, with more partnerships expected to be announced in 2026. This reflects a shift from traditional, one-off donations to a more systemic approach, using his vast resources to create a cohesive, branded network designed for collective impact. His philanthropic history, which exceeds $1 billion in total giving, includes the establishment of the Golisano Foundation in 1985, a major force in supporting programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Transforming Regional Care in Arkansas and Georgia

For the two new member hospitals, the $50 million infusions are historic, representing the largest single philanthropic gifts each institution has ever received. The funds are earmarked to directly address critical regional needs and fuel ambitious strategic plans already in motion.

In Arkansas, the gift provides a massive boost to Arkansas Children's $371 million system-wide expansion project. The health system is in the midst of a 10-year growth plan aimed at meeting the escalating health needs of children in the state and surrounding heartland region. The Golisano investment will help fund the addition of 265,000 square feet of new space and the renovation of 170,000 square feet across its campuses, supporting the recruitment of over 150 pediatric doctors and 400 new team members. Key projects include a new outpatient surgery facility in Little Rock, expanded inpatient capacity, and enhanced outpatient specialty clinics for neurology, cardiology, and pulmonology.

"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 Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children's. "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."

Similarly, in Georgia, the $50 million gift to Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia is a game-changer. The funds will enable the creation of a new, state-of-the-art Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, bolstering its role as a regional hub for high-acuity pediatric cases. Serving as Wellstar Health System's cornerstone for pediatric excellence, the hospital is the only Alliance member in a five-state region including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The investment complements other major projects, such as the new Kisner Foundation and Friends Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness, which aims to integrate neurology and psychology services and is slated for completion in late 2025.

"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," 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."

A New Blueprint for Healthcare Philanthropy

The Golisano Children's Alliance represents a distinct and powerful model in the landscape of American healthcare philanthropy. While collaborative networks like Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and research alliances have existed for years to share data and best practices, Golisano's approach is unique in its scale, funding mechanism, and branding strategy.

Unlike networks that form organically out of shared institutional goals, the Alliance is being intentionally constructed through massive, direct capital infusions from a single benefactor. This allows member hospitals to bypass years of traditional fundraising and immediately accelerate major strategic projects. The requirement for the hospitals to adopt the Golisano name is also a key differentiator. This practice, typically reserved for "once-in-a-generation" gifts, creates a powerful, unified brand identity that signifies a commitment to excellence and a connection to a national standard of care.

This model creates a symbiotic relationship: the hospitals receive transformative funding to elevate their services, while Golisano builds an enduring legacy and a visible, interconnected network dedicated to pediatric health. By creating a national brand for excellence in children's healthcare, the Alliance not only aims to improve outcomes within its member hospitals but also to inspire further philanthropy and set a new benchmark for collaborative care across the country. As the network continues its planned expansion, its potential to drive systemic change in how pediatric medicine is delivered, funded, and advanced will become a closely watched development in the healthcare sector.