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Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tuesday that the and will receive a historic $50 million gift that will transform pediatric health care in Kentucky.
Golisano of Rochester, New York, is the founder of Paychex, the nation鈥檚 largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses, and the Golisano Foundation, one of the nation鈥檚 largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Tuesday鈥檚 announcement from Golisano of funding to six new children鈥檚 health systems 鈥 including UK鈥檚 鈥 brings his total of lifetime giving to more than $1 billion.
The gift, the largest in UK HealthCare history and the second-largest to UK, will support the university鈥檚 mission to improve the health of our state鈥檚 children through access to advanced care, enhancing research to address the biggest challenges, and expanding educational opportunities to provide essential health care professionals in the state 鈥 and beyond.鈥
鈥淲e are honored and incredibly grateful to Mr. Golisano for the generous gift he has made to the University of Kentucky, and to our efforts to meet the needs of Kentucky children,鈥 said UK President Eli Capilouto. 鈥淢r. Golisano鈥檚 life has been about grit and grace, and that鈥檚 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 鈥 a promise to extend compassionate care, to more patients, closer to home. We鈥檒l translate his gift into acts of goodness to ensure a healthier, wealthier and wiser Kentucky.鈥
鈥淚 am proud to make this gift to the University of Kentucky to support the health and well-being of children in the Commonwealth,鈥 Golisano said. 鈥淎s part of the Golisano Children鈥檚 Alliance, UK HealthCare becomes part of a nationally recognized network of children鈥檚 hospitals that exemplifies excellence, dignity, and innovation in pediatric health care. With this gift, I hope to further UK鈥檚 mission of advancing health care in the state and providing high-quality health care to children and families closer to home.鈥
To honor this transformative gift, the executive committee of the UK Board of Trustees met on Tuesday to approve the renaming of , along with its specialty clinics and affiliate network, in honor of Golisano:
- Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital will become Golisano Children鈥檚 at UK.
- The Richmond Road site will become Golisano Children鈥檚 at UK - Richmond Road.
- The affiliate network will become Golisano Children鈥檚 at UK - Affiliate Network.
Funds from the Golisano gift will not only go to improving the hospital itself but will be used to grow and cultivate the affiliate network and other programs out in the state.
鈥淭he impact this gift will have for our hospital and the others receiving donations cannot be overstated. At Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital, we treat young people from all across the state,鈥 said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief for Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital. 鈥淜nowing the life-changing resources this will bring to these children and their families in their greatest time of need is truly inspiring. We look forward to being part of the Golisano Children鈥檚 Alliance that will strengthen children鈥檚 health care for years to come.鈥
A 鈥渉ospital within a hospital,鈥 the initially named UK Children鈥檚 Hospital launched in 1997. In 2005, it was renamed Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital, a change that reflects service to all of Kentucky鈥檚 kids, not just those in the Lexington area.
Today, it comprises more than 210 beds across six units, and includes several specialty units and programs for pediatrics like the Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Department, the , the Kosair for Kids Center for Safe and Healthy Children and Families, the鈥, a 鈥渙ne program, two sites鈥 collaboration with Cincinnati Children鈥檚 Hospital that is one of the top-ranked pediatric heart programs in the country, and a partnership with Shriners鈥 Children鈥檚 Lexington on an outpatient surgical and rehabilitation center that is among the top pediatric orthopedic programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
In more recent years, Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital has taken major steps to expand access to its specialty services across the state. In 2023, UK HealthCare opened a new facility, Kentucky Children鈥檚 Richmond Road, which is home to four specialty clinics: the Complex Care Clinic, Developmental Pediatrics Clinic, NICU Graduation Clinic and the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic. Earlier this year, the was launched, connecting community hospitals across the state to expert pediatric care and resources.
About Tom Golisano
, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, is the founder of Paychex Inc., the nation鈥檚 largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. Golisano鈥檚 vision, perseverance and action have left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives 鈥 in business, healthcare, education, animal welfare, voter policies, politics and tax reform. His investments are advancing entrepreneurship and driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals 鈥 including multiple children鈥檚 hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations 鈥 exceeds $1 billion.鈥
A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the鈥鈥痶o make the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the United States devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding grants to nonprofit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
Mr. Golisano formed and financially supports the鈥鈥痺here students receive a high quality business certificate and write their own entrepreneurial success stories, without having to take on enormous debt.
He is the author of two Books, 鈥淏uilt Not Born,鈥 a Wall Street Journal best seller and 鈥淭he Italian Kid Did It!鈥
Connect with him at , Facebook: , X: , Instagram: , YouTube:
