Arkansas Children’s Hospital gets a huge gift to fund expansion

Fifty million dollars! It’s the largest donation in the Little Rock hospital’s history.

The hefty gift from philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano will help fund a $371 million expansion of facilities and services over the next decade. It also adds Arkansas Children’s to a growing nationwide network of children’s hospitals benefitting from Golisano’s support.

Golisano founded Paychex in 1971 and made his fortune offering payroll and other business services. He’s made a habit of making enormous monetary gifts, many of them aimed at improving health care.

In recent years the New York state native has amped up his giving, with a goal of creating a national network of children’s hospitals. He’s been on a tear recently, giving $253 million to children’s hospitals in Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, Connecticut and Pennsylvania in October. His December gift in Arkansas coincides with a $50 million gift to Wellstar Children’s Hospital in Rome, Georgia.

A press release about the gift included Golisano’s reason for adding Arkansas Children’s to the network of hospitals he supports.

“Children’s hospitals are essential to the health and future of our communities, and each one serves families with unique needs and challenges,” said Tom Golisano. “Arkansas Children’s has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing pediatric care, expanding access and investing in innovation. I’m proud to support their work and to welcome them into the Golisano Children’s Alliance as we continue building a collaborative network focused on improving outcomes for children nationwide.” 

With this investment, Arkansas Children’s joins the Golisano Children’s Alliance — a growing collaborative of 12 children’s hospitals advancing pediatric health care delivery, innovation and access to high-quality care for children and families.

“The need for services continues to change and grow — and we are committed to providing the best care, research and outcomes for the patients we serve,” said Marcy Doderer, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Children’s. “Mr. Golisano’s extraordinary generosity is an investment in Arkansas Children’s, ensuring access to the best answers medicine can offer. This gift elevates our work as a pediatric health center of excellence, expanding care close to home for the children of America’s heartland.”

The Little Rohospital has been renamed the Arkansas Children’s Golisano Campus. You can read more about plans for the $50 million gift here.