Rochester, N.Y. – University of Vermont Children’s Hospital has received a transformative $25 million gift from philanthropist and civic leader B. Thomas (Tom) Golisano that will help improve care for patients and families across the region. The gift will be used to expand critical services for children with complex medical needs, bring specialty care closer to home to reduce families’ travel time and stress, and support the organization’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care. Receiving this gift also includes an invitation to join 9 other hospitals nationally in forming the Golisano Children’s Alliance whose mission is to ensure that children and families have access to the highest quality care close to home.

“This generous donation and partnership with other hospitals in the Golisano Children’s Alliance sets us up to better serve our communities for generations to come,” said Lewis First, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at UVM Children’s Hospital. “I want to thank Tom Golisano from the bottom of my heart for recognizing the excellent care the pediatric clinicians and staff at our children’s hospital provide, and for investing in the futures of the children and families we serve in Vermont and northern New York in such a meaningful way.”

UVM Children’s Hospital was selected for its high-quality care, collaborative culture, strong leadership and far-reaching regional impact on patients and families. To recognize the gift, which will be distributed as $5 million annually over five years, the children’s hospital will be renamed Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health.

“As we put this donation to work, we’re going to be listening to the voices of the people we serve and making sure the dollars are directed to programs and service improvements that will meet the needs of our region,” said Steve Leffler, MD, Interim CEO of University of Vermont Health and President of UVM Medical Center.

Building An Alliance of Children’s Hospitals

Philanthropy from the community has long been essential to maintaining many of UVM Health’s pediatric programs and services.  Mr. Golisano’s investments in multiple children’s hospitals accentuate the critical role that community support can play in ensuring the highest quality care possible.

“Children’s health has always been a priority for me, and it’s been deeply rewarding to see how the Golisano Children’s Hospitals are making a profound impact on the communities they serve,” said Mr. Golisano in his own press release today. “I am fortunate to be able to help others in this way, and I’m looking forward to seeing what these hospitals can achieve together. Also, I plan to continue making similar transformative gifts that will strengthen this new alliance.”

“I’m also looking forward to increasing our collaboration with other children’s hospitals as part of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, to share the great things we are doing and incorporate ideas learned from the other hospitals as well,” added Dr. First.

Six children’s hospitals received gifts as part of today’s announcement by philanthropist Tom Golisano, who is being recognized for surpassing $1 billion in lifetime philanthropic giving. Other hospitals receiving gifts include Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Maryland Children’s Hospital and WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.

They join University of Rochester Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, which will become the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo in January 2026.

Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health 
111 Colchester Avenue 
Burlington, VT 05401 

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About Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health

Golisano Children's Hospital at University of Vermont Health is a “hospital without walls” providing high-quality, child-friendly, family-centered care across six hospitals and five primary care clinics. Our Children’s Specialty Care Center offers more than 20 pediatric subspecialities, and our inpatient services include general pediatric and nursery care, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care. As part of a rural academic health system, we care for thousands of children each year — from routine checkups to complex medical needs. We welcome more than 2,000 babies annually at our Birthing Center and conduct about 38,000 patient visits each year. Through our partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences we bring the latest advances in pediatric care to our patients, while helping train the next generation of health care professionals. Together, we care for children and families where they live, learn and grow, drawing on the compassion and expertise of our faculty, staff and learners.

About University of Vermont Health

University of Vermont Health is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org.

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, Facebook: @GolisanoFoundation,  X: @GolisanoFdn,  Instagram: @golisanofdn,  YouTube: @GolisanoFoundation.