News

Tom Golisano gives $360 million to nonprofits across upstate NY

WXXI News | By Brian Sharp

Published September 17, 2024 at 4:50 PM EDT

Thomas Golisano greats leaders from 16 organizations in the education, a group that was awarded a total of $86 of $360 million of Golisano's personal wealth given to dozens of Upstate non-profits at the Golisano Institute Tuesday. — Nazareth University President Beth Paul approaches Tom Golisano with open arms for a hug after he announced the university was receiving a $5 million award. Golisano on Tuesday gave $360 million of his personal wealth to 82 upstate nonprofits at a news conference held at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Brighton.

Nonprofits across upstate New York are celebrating after being surprised Tuesday with millions of dollars in unrestricted grants from billionaire philanthropist Tom Golisano.

The Paychex founder is personally giving away $360 million to 82 organizations — most of them in the Rochester area.

“I'm going to be candid with you,” he said, speaking with reporters after the announcement at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Brighton. “I had put most of these organizations in my will so that when I, uh, you know — they would benefit from it.

“But I decided ... why not give it to them now, so they can use it now?”

The awards nearly doubled his lifetime giving, raising the total to $775 million with more expected. He promised a similar announcement in Florida where he moved in 2009.

Golisano, 82, said he made the decision on the $360 million several weeks ago, and was personally involved in deciding the amounts.

He was emotional at times on Tuesday, joking afterward that it was not easy giving away so much money. He also spoke at some length about recent health challenges in his family — including his own. Last Thursday, Golisano was at the offices of his family foundation when he briefly lost consciousness, twice. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and prescribed a pacemaker.

“So here it is, right here,” he said, reaching his hand up to tap his heart as the roomful of nonprofit leaders applauded.

He had invited them Tuesday without revealing the substance of the announcement. Some thought there was news about his foundation, and he did reveal that he would double his endowment.

After giving an overview of what he had come to say — the $360 million for 82 organizations — he started listing off the nonprofits and the amount of their awards.

“I was not understanding why we were all sitting next to each other until everybody started moving, and it was like, oh my goodness,” said Lorene Benson, founder and director of Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington. “It's amazing. It's amazing, his giving.”

Cobblestone works with people with developmental disabilities in the arts. The group started in the 1980s with a wheelchair dance company and has grown to 120 students across six counties with programs in music, dance, theater and visual arts.

“It's a slice of heaven. A slice of heaven for all the people we serve,” Benson told Golisano when she reached him onstage. “Thank you.”

The money will allow the group to buy new buses, increase education and training for staff, and boost community involvement for the students, she said.

“Some of them were crying as they walked across,” Golisano said of the nonprofit leaders. “Some of them were just so happy. I mean, it was all so positive, and so nice.”

Rochester Regional Health received the largest award, totaling $20 million to be paid out over several years. Others receiving grants include Foodlink, Hillside Family of Agencies, Veterans Outreach Center, area schools and colleges, nonprofits working in areas of intellectual and development disabilities, and nearly two dozen animal welfare groups.

WXXI Public Media received $2 million.

Thomas Golisano took a moment to gather his emotions before announcing that he was giving $360 million of his personal wealth to dozens of Upstate non-profits at the Golisano Institute Tuesday. — Thomas Golisano takes a moment to gather his emotions Tuesday before announcing that he was giving $360 million of his personal wealth to dozens of upstate nonprofit organizations at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Brighton.

"No single person has had such an impact on our organization or this community," said WXXI President and CEO Norm Silverstein. "Tom has always believed in the mission of public media and we are grateful for his support of our work."

The full list of recipients is at the end of this article.

“Honestly, I was as emotional as Mr. Golisano,” said Kim Condon, CEO of Daystar Kids, which received $5 million — effectively matching its current budget. “I haven't even opened the award letter yet. I'm still so excited.”

Daystar serves children with special needs and their families — be it nursing services, early childhood education, or early intervention-related therapies.

A stack of some of the 82 envelopes handed out by Thomas Golisano to upstate non -profits totaling $360 million of his personal wealth at the Golisano Institute Tuesday. — A stack of some of the 82 award envelopes handed out Tuesday to upstate nonprofits.

“We are the only program of our kind in the entire United States,” she said. “So for us, this gets us to that point of being more efficient, replicating this model — because it works. We know we’re preparing kids better for school, and kids are surviving life-threatening illnesses more than ever. So this is something that will set us on our path ... of replicating this service all across the country.”

And that is the goal.

"I want them to think entrepreneurially,” Golisano said. “And you can do it in nonprofits just like you can do it in corporations and businesses. Find better ways to do things. And if you need resources to help you, you’ve got it.”

A decline in giving nationwide has put a strain on nonprofits. That was evident recently in cuts to nonprofits announced by the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

“It's a real issue, because the ability to raise money for charitable organizations through major corporations is certainly diminished in this area,” Golisano said. “So we're trying to fill in the gap.”