This week, Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine announced a transformative $50 million gift from philanthropist, entrepreneur, and civic leader Tom Golisano — one that will shape the future of pediatric care across the region and beyond.
The Nittany Lion and CMN Miracle Child Owen unveil the new mark for Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital.
The contribution will name the health system’s nationally recognized Children’s Hospital and accelerate its vision to expand as a cutting-edge hub for multidisciplinary pediatric care. The investment will also advance education, innovation, and research — fueling a mission to set a national standard for excellence and compassion in caring for children and their families.
The newly named Golisano Children’s Hospital at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center will join nine other leading institutions as part of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, a collaborative national network committed to expanding access to essential pediatric care. The Alliance will include six newly funded and four established children’s hospitals working together to share resources, research, and best practices.
(l-r): Dr. Karen Kim, dean of Penn State College of Medicine; Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi; philanthropist, entrepreneur and civic leader Tom Golisano; and Dr. Michael Kupferman, CEO of Penn State Health.
Golisano is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. His philanthropic contributions to education and hospitals — including multiple hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations — exceeds $1 billion.
“Tom Golisano’s extraordinary generosity will elevate our ability to care for families across the region,” said Dr. Michael Kupferman, CEO of Penn State Health. “This gift will help catalyze meaningful growth for our system and accelerate our drive toward the highest levels of care, service, and discovery — all leading to a healthier future for children across Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Future investments made possible by the gift include:
Expanding access and advancing health equity in rural communities
Enhancing behavioral health care for children and adolescents
Strengthening pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery programs
Enriching pediatric neuroscience care
Expanding and modernizing neonatal intensive care units
Training the next generation of pediatric specialists
Accelerating research to uncover new treatments and cures
Enhancing integrated outpatient care for children and families
“This gift is truly historic,” said Katie Anderson, Director of Children’s Miracle Network. “It will help ensure that every child has access to trusted, world-class care close to home. The impact of this generosity will be felt for generations — saving lives, touching lives, and creating hope for countless families.”
Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Families joined hospital leadership, care teams, patients, and community members for a special naming ceremony celebrating the historic contribution. The day marked a proud milestone — one that honors the past, celebrates the present, and looks ahead to a future where every child can receive the very best care when they need it most.
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine leaders offered details about the impact of a landmark $50 million gift from philanthropist, entrepreneur and civic leader Tom Golisano to name Penn State Health Children’s Hospital during a celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. They discussed the Children’s Hospital’s integration into the Golisano Children’s Alliance and outlined future investments in pediatric care, education, research and innovation.
