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SUNY trustees approve naming Central New York Children’s Hospital for philanthropist B.Thomas Golisano

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The SUNY Board of Trustees today (Nov. 9) approved a request by SUNY Upstate Medical University to name the Central New York Children’s Hospital for philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano in recognition of his $6 million gift to children’s hospital fundraising campaign. SUNY Upstate officials announced the Golisano pledge Nov. 1.

“We thank the SUNY Board of Trustees for its action today, which enables SUNY Upstate to acknowledge this generous gift from Thomas Golisano,” said SUNY Upstate President Gregory L. Eastwood, M.D.

SUNY Upstate says the proposed children’s hospital will now be called the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Central New York at University Hospital.

While the Golisano gift is the largest made to the children’s hospital campaign, Eastwood acknowledged that more than $14 million was raised from thousands of contributors throughout Central New York. “The level of support and commitment to the campaign from all across Central New York was instrumental to its success,” Eastwood said.

The $6 million gift from Golisano will bring SUNY Upstate’s children’s hospital campaign total to more than $20 million, exceeding its $15 million goal. The campaign was launched in the Fall of 2003.

Construction on the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Central New York at University Hospital is expected to begin early next year. Opening of the hospital is set for early 2008.

Golisano, of Pittsford, N.Y., is the founder and chairman of Rochester-based Paychex Inc., a leading national provider of payroll and human resource services for small- to medium-sized businesses. He is also owner of the Buffalo Sabres, a National Hockey League team. A graduate of the State University of New York at Alfred, Golisano was named the 2004 Outstanding Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.