Monumental Announcement Doubles
Philanthropist's Lifetime Giving
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Golisano, entrepreneur,
philanthropist, and civic leader, today announced an unprecedented
and historic series of major awards totaling $360 million to 82 non-profit organizations in
Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse, New York. This commitment nearly
doubles Golisano's lifetime giving, bringing the total to
$775 million, with more to be
expected.
The unrestricted, multiyear awards range from $250,000 to $20
million each, paid over four to five years, spanning
healthcare, education, animal welfare, disability services, and
other crucial community needs. Almost all of the organizations who
learned today that they are receiving a major award have been
recipients of prior awards by Mr. Golisano and/or the Golisano
Foundation. This significant financial commitment represents
support for a diverse range of causes, all of which are meaningful
to Tom and follow suit with prior awards given. Awards received may
be used at each organization's discretion.
Capping the monumental nature of this initiative, Mr. Golisano
is also making a transformative $52
million award to the Golisano Foundation by increasing the
total investment assets to $120
million. This infusion of funding will increase the Golisano
Foundation's giving from approximately $3 to more than $5
million annually allowing even more opportunities for new
and current organizations to access crucial grant funding that
falls within the Foundation's established mission.
"I'm thrilled to provide support to the Upstate New York
community, to the region where I built my life and my business."
said Mr. Golisano. "I know that there are many organizations doing
great work and understand that running a nonprofit is not easy,
facing both opportunities and challenges, like raising money. These
awards are the result of relationships I've formed over the years.
I am impressed with these organizations' dedication and innovation.
It is extremely rewarding to see what they have been able to
accomplish with my financial support over the years. I hope this
unexpected, unrestricted funding helps them build on their
successes and broaden their impact."
"One of my favorite sayings is 'the only wealth you keep is that
which you give away,' and I'm so lucky to be able to live that out.
The success of Paychex, the hard work of the employees there— is
ultimately what makes these donations possible, and I am beyond
grateful that I have the ability to do so. I look forward to seeing
how this will be used to strengthen their organizations and better
the communities they serve."
The $360 million commitment
announced today brings Mr. Golisano's overall philanthropy to
$775 million. Prior to today, his
personal philanthropy totaled over $374
million. In addition, The Golisano Foundation, which he
founded in 1985, has awarded more than $41
million in grants, primarily to organizations devoted to
supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
(IDD). It also helps animal welfare organizations through Bailey
and Friends, an initiative of the Golisano Foundation founded in
honor of Golisano's two dogs, both of whom were named Bailey.
"We encourage non-profit organizations to visit our website to
learn more about Tom's personal giving and the Foundation's
mission," said Erica Dayton,
executive director of the Golisano Foundation. "We look forward to
the new influx of agencies we'll be introduced to through the
widespread news of Tom's most recent giving. Understanding the
needs of the communities we support and the organizations that
devote their expertise to serving them is a constantly evolving
process. We are always looking to learn more and determine how we
can be supportive with the resources available."
Today's announcement follows Mr. Golisano's June 2024 commitment of $50 million to the University of Rochester Medical Center to establish
the Golisano Intellectual and Development Disabilities
Institute—his largest single gift to date.
$360 Million in Awards
Announced on September 17, 2024 to 82
Organizations
- Rochester $201 Million
- Buffalo $66.5 Million
- Syracuse $40.5 Million
- $52 Million to the Golisano
Foundation which serves Upstate New York and Southwest Florida
Community - 8 Organizations - $25
Million
The Child Advocacy Center of Greater
Rochester - $5 Million
Foodlink - $5 Million
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind - $2
Million
Hillside Family of Agencies - $5
Million
Lifespan - $2 Million
Medical Motor Service of Rochester
& Monroe County - $2 Million
Veterans Outreach Center - $2
Million
WXXI Public Broadcasting - $2
Million
Education - 16 Organizations - $86
Million
Alfred State College - $5 Million
Allendale Columbia School -
$5 Million
Aquinas Institute of Rochester
$5 Million
Bishop Kearney High School -
$5 Million
Canisius University - $5 Million
The Charles Finney School - $3
Million
Daemen University - $5 Million
The Harley School - $5 Million
Hope Hall School - $3 Million
McQuaid Jesuit High School - $5
Million
Nazareth University - $5 Million
Niagara University - $10 Million
Our Lady of Mercy School for
Young Women - $5 Million
Roberts Wesleyan University -
$5 Million
Rochester Institute of Technology -
$10 Million
St. John Fisher University - $5
Million
Health - 9 Organizations - $69
Million
American Cancer Society, Golisano Hope Lodge - $2 Million
American Red Cross - Greater Rochester Chapter - $5 Million
Daystar Kids - $5 Million
Mercy Flight Central - $5 Million
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center - $10
Million
Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo - $10
Million
Rochester Regional Health - $20
Million
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, NY - $2
Million
Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital - $10 Million
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) - 26
Organizations - $104
Million
Ability Partners (CP Rochester, Rochester
Rehab, Happiness House) - $5
Million
Arc Allegany-Steuben - $5
Million
Arc Chemung-Schuyler - $5
Million
Arc Erie County New York -
$5 Million
Arc GLOW (Genesee/Livingston/Orleans/Wyoming)- $5
Million
Arc of Monroe County -
$5 Million
Arc of Ontario County -
$5 Million
Arc of Wayne County - $5 Million
AutismUp - $3 Million
Best Buddies, WNY - $1 Million
Catholic Charities Family and Community Services - $5 Million
CDS Life Transitions - $5 Million
Cobblestone Arts Center - $2
Million
Empowering People's Independence (EPI) - $5
Million
EquiCenter - $2 Million
Golisano Autism Center - $3
Million
Heritage Christian Services - $5
Million
Holy Childhood - $5 Million
Lifetime Assistance - $5 Million
Mary Cariola Center - Future Announcement
Mozaic (Arc of Seneca, Cayuga
& Yates Counties) - $5
Million
People, Inc. - $5 Million
Special Olympics New York - $1
Million
Springbrook - $5 Million
Starbridge Services - $2 Million
Summit Center - $5 Million
Animal Welfare – 23 Organizations - $24 Million
Better Together Pet Rescue Center - $250,000
Beverly Animal Shelter - $1
Million
Chautauqua County Humane Society - $1.5
Million
Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA - $1 Million
Finger Lakes SPCA - $1.5 Million
Headed for Furever - $250,000
Hornell Area Humane Society - $1.5
Million
Humane Society of Schuyler County
- $1.5 Million
Humane Society of Wayne County -
$1.5 Million
Humane Society of Yates County -
$1.5 Million
Joyful Rescue - $250,000
Keller's Kats Rescue - $250,000
Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater
Rochester - $2 Million
Mr. Grey's Strays - $250,000
Operation Freedom Ride - $250,000
Pet Adoption Network - $250,000
Pet Pride of New York -
$1.5 Million
Rochester Emergency Veterinary
Services - $1.5 Million
Rochester HOPE for Pets - $250,000
SPCA in Cattaraugus County -
$1.5 Million
SPCA Serving Allegany County - $1.5
Million
SPCA Serving Erie County - $1.5
Million
Wyoming County SPCA - $1.5
Million
Golisano Foundation - $52
Million
About Tom Golisano and the
Golisano Foundation
Tom Golisano—entrepreneur,
philanthropist, and civic leader—is the founder of Paychex, Inc.,
the nation's largest human resource company for small to
medium-sized businesses, providing integrated human capital
management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and
insurance services for more than 745,000 clients in the U.S. and
Europe. Mr. Golisano's vision,
perseverance, and action have left an indelible mark on a broad
spectrum of issues that touch our lives—in business, healthcare,
education, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His continuing
investments are helping to advance entrepreneurship through the
2023 establishment of the Golisano Institute for Business &
Entrepreneurship as well as driving the success of numerous
businesses and start-ups. His personal philanthropic contributions
to hospitals—including three children's hospitals that bear his
name—and numerous educational institutions, his Foundation, and
other organizations now exceed $775
million. He has dedicated more than $145 million to advancing inclusive health around
the world helping to close the substantial gap in access to care
for people with intellectual disabilities.
A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Mr.
Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano
Foundation to make the world a better place for people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than
$120 million now in gross assets, it
is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to
supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities awarding about $5
million annually to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
Mr. Golisano is the author of two Books, "Built Not Born," a
Wall Street Journal best seller and "The Italian Kid Did
It." He is listed on the Forbes 400.
Connect with us at Golisanofoundation.org, @GolisanoFdn,
@ThomasGolisano
About Golisano Institute for Business &
Entrepreneurship
Golisano Institute for Business &
Entrepreneurship is a leader in alternative post-secondary business
education. Delivering a high-quality and accelerated business
experience for students of all ages, Golisano Institute leverages
an expansive roster of higher education partners, entrepreneur
advisors, and business connections to help professionals reach
their full potential. Thanks to the generosity of founder
Tom Golisano, qualified students can
access the Institute's benefits at a significantly lower cost than
the average higher education institution. For more information,
visit us at LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook,
or golisanoinstitute.org.
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