WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s
WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital received an extraordinary boost today through a $28 million unrestricted gift from Thomas Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader whose vision and generosity have transformed communities and institutions across the United States.
The gift was presented earlier today (Oct. 28) by Mr. Golisano to a delegation of WVU Medicine senior leaders at the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship in Brighton, New York. To commemorate this historic moment and honor Mr. Golisano’s legacy, WVU Medicine Children’s will now be known as WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s.
This transformative investment will accelerate the mission of the hospital and its affiliated clinics to provide world-class care for children and families across West Virginia and the broader region through both its main campus and its growing network of community-based pediatric clinics.
“Mr. Golisano’s gift is a powerful statement of belief in our mission and in the future of children’s health,” Michael A. Grace, M.B.A., Ed.D., F.A.C.H.E., president and CEO of West Virginia University Hospitals, said. “His generosity will help fuel innovation, expand pediatric services, and strengthen our ability to deliver life-changing care to children across our region.”
WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s now joins nine other hospitals across the country as part of the newly created Golisano Children’s Alliance, a first-of-its-kind national network of children’s hospitals dedicated to sharing best practices in patient care, quality improvement, innovation, and inclusion.
The Alliance unites six newly funded children’s hospitals, including WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, with four existing Golisano-supported hospitals in New York and Florida. Together, the 10 hospitals will collaborate to strengthen pediatric care, expand access, and create a nationally recognized model of excellence in children’s health. The other hospitals in the Alliance include:
- Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
- Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
- University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital
- University of Maryland Children’s Hospital
- University of Vermont Children’s Hospital
- Golisano Children’s Hospitals at the University of Rochester Medical Center
- Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Golisano Children’s Hospital Lee Health
- John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
“Mr. Golisano’s generosity does more than support WVU Medicine Children’s; it brings us into an alliance of like-minded hospitals dedicated to improving outcomes for children everywhere,” Christopher Mascio, M.D., executive chair of WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “Together, we will share knowledge, collaborate on innovation, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric care.”
Over the coming months, WVU Medicine Children’s will update signage and materials to reflect its new name. For now, the focus remains on celebrating this historic moment, one that strengthens WVU Medicine Children’s ability to care for kids throughout West Virginia and beyond.
About Tom Golisano
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. 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, 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 — including multiple children’s hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations — exceeds $1 billion.
A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Tom 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 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 grants to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
Mr. Golisano formed and financially supports the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, where 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, “Built Not Born,” a Wall Street Journal best seller, and “The Italian Kid Did It!”
Connect with him at GolisanoFoundation.org and on Facebook @GolisanoFoundation; on X @GolisanoFdn; on Instagram @GolisanoFdn; and on YouTube @GolisanoFoundation.
About WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s
WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s is more than just a hospital, it’s a family of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals dedicated to providing exceptional care for children and families across West Virginia and the surrounding region. As the state’s largest network of primary and specialty pediatric providers, we offer the most comprehensive range of pediatric specialty and high-risk maternal care in the region. Learn more about what sets us apart and why families trust us when it matters most at WVUKids.com.