Golisano to give $360 million to upstate nonprofits
By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | September 17, 2024
Paychex founder Thomas Golisano has pledged $360 million to 82 nonprofits in the Finger Lakes, Western New York, and Central New York regions. The donations mark his largest philanthropic gesture ever, more than doubling his giving to $775 million.
The pledge also follows his June 2024 commitment of $50 million—his largest single gift to date—to establish the Golisano Intellectual and Development Disabilities Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
“I’m thrilled to provide support to the Upstate New York community, to the region where I built my life and my business,” Golisano said at the announcement held at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship today.
“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,” he continued. “The success of Paychex and the hard work of the employees there are 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.”
Nonprofits in Rochester will receive the bulk of the donations ($201 million), with organizations in Buffalo ($66.5 million) and Syracuse ($40.5 million) also receiving substantial amounts.
The individual awards range from $250,000 to $20 million and will be paid over four to five years. Most of the organizations have been recipients of donations by Golisano or his foundation in the past and include the areas of health care, education, animal welfare, and disability services.
“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,” Golisano said. “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.”
The Golisano Foundation, which serves those Upstate New York regions as well as Southwest Florida, will receive $52 million. That infusion of funding will increase the foundation’s annual giving from some $3 million to more than $5 million.
In particular, organizations that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are highlighted, aligning with the Golisano Foundation’s original intent when founded in 1985. Similarly, Bailey and Friends, an initiative founded in honor of Golisano’s two dogs, both of whom were named Bailey, also is supported by the foundation.
“We encourage nonprofit 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,” she added. “We are always looking to learn more and determine how we can be supportive with the resources available.”
The nonprofits receiving awards are:
Community ($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 ($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 ($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 ($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
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
Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to Letters@RochesterBeacon.com.
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