BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University is honored to announce that it is the recipient of a transformative $5 million gift from Rochester entrepreneur, philanthropist and civic leader Tom Golisano. This generous donation is part of a $360 million philanthropic initiative benefiting 82 nonprofit organizations across upstate New York, which Golisano unveiled at a news conference in Rochester, NY on Tuesday, September 17. The unrestricted multi-year awards support a diverse range of causes, all meaningful to Golisano, and include healthcare, animal welfare, disability services and education.
“On behalf of the entire Canisius community, I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Mr. Golisano for his commitment, his generosity and for his investment in Canisius University,” said President Steve Stoute. “This gift to Canisius will significantly bolster our ability to deliver meaningful and transformative educational experiences for our students in furtherance of our mission of forming and transforming the next generation of great leaders who will serve the community of which we are all a part … It is indeed a great day to be a Griff.”
Tom Golisano is founder of Paychex, a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources and insurance services. He is also chair of the Golisano Foundation. Launched in 1985, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away and I am so lucky to be able to live that out,” Golisano stated as he announced his commitment of $360 million to dozens of nonprofits today. “I know that there are many organizations doing great work and understand that running a nonprofit is not easy, facing both opportunities and challenges, like raising money … I hope this unexpected, unrestricted funding helps them build on their successes and broaden their impact.”
Today’s commitment of $360 million nearly doubles Golisano’s lifetime giving, bringing the total to $775 million.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
