Tom Golisano donating $360M across Upstate NY nonprofits

Editor’s Note: The full news conference and list of organizations is available below:

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano announced he is donating $360 million across Upstate New York.

Golisano, the founder of Paychex and chairman of the Golisano Foundation, made an emotional announcement Tuesday morning, saying the money will go towards non-profits across the state.

“The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away. So today, we’re going to give away…(voice cracks)…we are committing $360 million to non-profit organizations across upstate New York.”

There will be 82 organizations receiving funding. These organizations are in the categories of health, education, intellectual and developmental disability services, general community, and animal welfare.

“There are so many good organizations that provide so many services and capabilities to people and our domain here in Upstate New York,” Golisano said. “We’re behind them, hopefully we are going to give them the opportunity to expand their services, to add even more quality, maybe even bring the pricing down.”

Foodlink was one of the organizations that received funds from Golisano. Julia Tedesco, the president and CEO of Foodlink, shared her thoughts on the announcement.

“He made a decision to make an enormous continued investment in this community and some people don’t make that decision, so I’m in shock. I think along with a lot of my peer organizations here and just total gratitude,” said Tedesco.

I think the fact that it’s unrestricted dollars is really exceptional and that gives us so much latitude to make really profound differences in people’s lives,” said Tracy Crosby, Executive Director of Arc Foundation of Monroe. “There’s usually so many loopholes we have to jump through and so many things we have to promise to receive funding. To receive these dollars unrestricted, it’s just life-altering.”

Full News Conference:

News 8 has compiled the list of non-profit organizations receiving funding:

• Health:
  • American Cancer Society at Hope Lodge – $2 million
  • American Red Cross, Rochester Chapter – $5 million
  • Daystar Kids – $5M
  • Mercy Flight – $5M
  • Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center – $10M
  • Oishei Children’s Hospital – $10 million
  • Rochester Regional Health – $20M
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester – $2 million
  • Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital – $10 million
• Education:
  • Alfred State College – $5 million
  • Allandale Columbia School – $5 million
  • St. John Fisher University $5 million
  • Aquinas Institute -$5 million
  • Bishop Kearney High School – $5 million
  • Canisius University – $5 million
  • Charles Finney School – $3 million
  • Damon University – $5 million
  • Harley School – $5 million
  • Hope Hall – $3 million
  • McQuaid Junior High School – $5 million
  • Niagara University – $10 million
  • Nazareth University – $5 million
  • Our Lady of Mercy – $5 million
  • Roberts Wesleyan – $5 million
  • RIT – $10 million
• Intellectual & Development Disabilities:
  • Ability Partners Foundation Happiness House – $5 million
  • The Arc Allegany Steuben – $5 million
  • The Arc of Erie County, New York – $5 million
  • The Arc GLOW – $5 million
  • The Arc of Monroe County – $5 million
  • The Arc of Ontario County – $ 5 million
  • The Arc of Wayne County – $5 million
  • AutismUp – $3 million
  • Best Buddies of Western New York – $1 million
  • Catholic Charities – $5 million
  • CDS Life Transitions – $5 million
  • Cobblestone Arts Center – $2 million
  • Empowering People’s Independence – $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 – TBA
  • Mozaic – $5 million
  • People, Incorporated – $5 million
  • Springbook – $5 million
  • Starbridge Services – $2 million
  • The Summit Center – $5 million
• Community
  • Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester – $5 million
  • Foodlink – $5 million
  • Freedom Guide dogs for the Blind – $2 million
  • Hillside – $5 million
  • LifeSpan – $2 million
  • Medical Motor Service of Rochester – $2 million
  • Veterans Outreach Center – $2 million
  • WXXI – $2 million
• Animal Welfare
  • Better Together Rescue Center – $250,000
  • Beverly Animal Shelter – $1 million
  • Chautauqua County Humane Society – $1.5 million
  • Chemung County Humane Society – $1 million
  • Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York – $1.5 million
  • Headed Furever – $250,000
  • Hornell Area Humane Society – $1.5 million
  • Humane Society of Schuyler County – $1.5 million
  • Humane Society of Yates County – $1.5 million
  • Joyful Rescues – $250,000
  • Keller’s Cats Rescue $250,000
  • Lollypop Farm Humane Society – $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 of Cattaraugus County – $1.5 million
  • SPCA of Allegany County – $1.5 million
  • SPCA of Erie County – $1.5 million
  • SPCA of Wyoming County – $1.5 million.

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