Golisano awards RIT $10 million

B. Thomas Golisano announced Tuesday that he plans to award Rochester Institute of Technology $10 million. The gift is part of $360 million that the Paychex founder is distributing to nonprofit organizations across upstate New York.

“This award is unrestricted and given with the confidence and understanding that it will be used to strengthen your organization and our community through the outstanding work you do every day,” Golisano said in a letter to RIT. “I’m extremely pleased to provide this financial support to your organization and look forward to receiving yearly updates on the planned use of this award.”

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A. Sue Weisler

In 2001, Paychex founder Tom Golisano gave a $14 million gift to the university to create Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

RIT will receive $2 million a year for five years from the Golisano Foundation. Eighty-two organizations in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse are receiving funding. The unrestricted, multiyear awards range from $250,000 to $20 million each, paid over four to five years, spanning healthcare, education, animal welfare, disability services, and other community needs.

“Tom Golisano has been a magnificent supporter of the Rochester community and today’s announcement strongly reinforces his love for the nonprofit sector that benefits the people in our region so greatly,” said RIT President David Munson. “We are truly appreciative of this wonderful and unexpected gift to RIT. We cannot thank Tom enough.”

Golisano has been a longtime supporter of RIT. The gift Tuesday brings his total giving to RIT to $36.2 million.

In 2001, RIT President Albert Simone presented Golisano with the opportunity of investing in a new computing college at RIT. It didn’t take Golisano long to consider what that might mean for Paychex and people around the world. With a $14 million gift from the philanthropist, RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences was launched. The college now enrolls more than a quarter of RIT’s students.

In 2007, he donated $10 million to RIT to create the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, one of the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on research and education in sustainable design, pollution prevention, remanufacturing, and alternative energy development.

In 2011, Golisano joined forces with the Polisseni Foundation to give a $4.5 million gift to name the Gene Polisseni Center. The center is home to RIT men’s and women’s hockey.

In 2015, the Golisano family selected RIT as the home for the leader’s archives. The collection is housed in RIT Archives, with a multimedia display available for the public to see in the atrium of Golisano Hall. Golisano is an emeritus trustee on RIT’s Board of Trustees.

According to the Golisano Foundation, the $360 million announced Tuesday nearly doubles Golisano’s lifetime giving, bringing the total to $775 million, with more to be expected.

“The only wealth that you get to keep is the wealth that you give away,” said Golisano.