Miracle Makers: Tom Golisano, the Quintessential Miracle Maker

Outstanding Commitment by an Individual

There is no question that our community’s children will have a better, brighter future because of Tom Golisano. Our hospital namesake has done much to ensure that Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), the region’s only children’s hospital, can continue to blossom and grow for generations to come.

Thanks to Golisano’s first major gift of $14 million in 2002, Golisano Children’s Hospital was able to recruit outstanding faculty and expand programs in cardiac care, general surgery, neuromedicine and more. Last July, Golisano surprised the community by generously pledging to contribute $20 million to help build a brand new state-of-the-art children’s hospital. For all that Golisano has done and the exciting future he has made possible, it is an honor and a privilege to recognize him as this year’s Miracle Maker Award recipient for Outstanding Commitment by an Individual.

“It has been a dream of ours to build a new hospital for many years. Tom’s generosity has enabled us to put the plans in motion, so we can create one of the best children’s hospitals in the country,” said Nina F. Schor, M.D., Ph.D., pediatrician-in-chief at Golisano Children’s Hospital and the William H. Eilinger Chair of Pediatrics at URMC (2006 - 2017). “Tom’s support, commitment and passion for helping children made for an easy decision to choose him for this award. We are pleased to recognize Tom for his many contributions.”

Golisano’s latest pledge brings his total giving to the Children’s Hospital to $34 million, making him the University of Rochester’s most generous living donor. In addition, the Golisano Foundation has given $1.6 million to the University of Rochester’s Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities to establish the Institute for Innovative Transition.

The legacy Golisano is creating is built upon both in his commitments to the hospital and in the generosity he has inspired among others, including Paychex, which donated $100,000 last September, and Mike and Alice Smith, who have pledged to give $1.3 million toward Golisano Children’s Hospital’s capital campaign. The Golisano Children’s Hospital campaign is part of the University of Rochester Medical Center’s $650 million campaign and the overall $1.2 billion goal of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester.

“Tom stands by what he believes in and what’s more, he ignites a spark of passion in those around him,” said Scott Rasmussen, director of Advancement at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “To Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Finger Lakes Region, Tom Golisano is and always will be the quintessential ‘Miracle Maker’.”