Avera Receives Historic $35 Million Gift from Philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano to Advance Care for Children

Avera is proud to announce a historic $35 million gift from philanthropist, entrepreneur and child health advocate B. Thomas Golisano. This transformative contribution to the Tomorrow's Promise Campaign supports pediatric care for the next generation. It is the largest single gift in Avera's history. In recognition of Mr. Golisano's investment, the new children's hospital within the patient care tower at Avera McKennan will be named the Avera Golisano Children's Hospital.

Inspired by a lifelong dedication to improving children's health, Mr. Golisano said, "Children and families should not have to travel long distances to get the care they need. My investment in the Avera Golisano Children's Hospital is about more than a new building. It's about giving kids access to outstanding care closer to home, supporting families, and creating better outcomes for the future. I believe in Avera's leadership, and I'm proud to support its commitment to expanding services and improving care for children across the region."

"Mr. Golisano's investment reflects an enduring commitment to advancing the future of children's health. This gift will significantly expand capacity and enhance care delivery," said Avera President and CEO Jim Dover. "We are grateful for this support of the Avera mission. Children from across our entire region will benefit from this gift for generations to come."

Mr. Golisano's landmark gift will:

• Support construction underway of the six-story, $165 million patient care tower dedicated to newborns, children and families, significantly expanding capacity and enhancing care delivery across the region.
• Expand access to critical behavioral health services for children, adolescents and families.
• Increase access to care closer to home through program growth, additional specialists and more timely services.
• Enhance family-centered care by creating space for families to remain close to their loved ones during treatment and recovery.

"Our sincere and deepest gratitude goes to Mr. Golisano for his generosity to children and families. Our Avera McKennan children's health program supports the entire Avera system through specialty and sub-specialty pediatrics care, along with telemedicine and virtual support to rural areas so families can remain close to home, when possible," said Regional President and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Ron Place, MD.

Avera proudly joins 14 other hospitals across the United States as part of the Golisano Children's Alliance. The Alliance is a growing national network of children's hospitals, united by a shared commitment to improving pediatric health care delivery, advancing innovation and ensuring children and families have access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home.

Avera is currently the westernmost and most rural member of the Golisano Children's Alliance, marking a significant milestone for the alliance. Mr. Golisano's transformational investment supports Avera's organization-wide strategic commitment of $250 million to the care of newborns, children and families we serve.

"This is a gift for every child and family we will serve for generations. Children and families receive exceptional care today, and because of Mr. Golisano's defining investment, we will expand spaces, programs and capabilities to transform lives. This extraordinary gift changes everything for children and for those who love them," said Dzenan Berberovic, Chief Development Officer and Foundation President for Avera. "Philanthropy takes all of us and makes it possible to do more and care for every child and family who depends on us, thanks to our more than 20,000 annual supporters."

Avera will open the new women's and children's addition on the Avera McKennan campus in early 2027. The six-story tower will add 220,000 square feet of centralized hospital space for birthing, newborn nursery and pediatrics, specially designed to care for the unique hospital needs of these populations.

"The Avera Golisano Children's Hospital will not only offer a welcoming front door for this care in Sioux Falls, but it will also support our entire system across five states through program growth, additional specialists and more timely services," said Kathy Wang, MD, Neonatologist and Clinical Vice President for the Women's and Children's Service Line. "Generous philanthropic support, like that of Mr. Golisano, will help fulfill the promise of healthier futures for children and families across our region. We are grateful."

To learn more about Avera's building projects or to donate to the Tomorrow's Promise Campaign, visit Avera.org/McKennanFuture.

About Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano - entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader - is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation's largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. Mr. Golisano's vision, perseverance, and action have left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives in business, healthcare, education, animal welfare, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His investments are advancing entrepreneurship and driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals-including multiple children's hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations exceed $1 billion.

A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Tom Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano Foundation to make the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding grants to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.

In 2025, Mr. Golisano launched the Golisano Children's Alliance, a national initiative that provides strategic funding and brings together children's hospitals across the United States to elevate pediatric care by expanding services, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that children and families have access to the highest quality medical attention close to home. Together, Alliance members are building a nationally recognized network that exemplifies excellence, dignity, and innovation in pediatric health care.