UK’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital receives historic donation and new name
Kentucky Children’s Hospital will receive a $50 million donation and new name, courtesy of a donation and a new alliance focused on children’s health.
The donation comes from entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano, who heads the Golisano Foundation based in New York — one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
The hospital will join the new Golisano Alliance, which is made up of 10 children’s hospitals across the country. As part of the new group, the hospitals will share “share research, training and best practices,” Golisano said at an event announcing the change Tuesday morning. In total, Golisano is donating $253 million to the alliance hospitals.
“The alliance is not about creating another organization,” Golisano said, “it’s about connection and action.”
As part of the donation, several name changes will take place: Kentucky Children’s Hospital will become Golisano Children’s at UK; the Richmond Road site will become Golisano Children’s at UK — Richmond Road; and the affiliate network will become Golisano Children’s at UK — Affiliate Network.
The $50 million donation is the largest in UK HealthCare’s history and the second-largest in the university’s history. UK President Eli Capilouto said UK HealthCare is honored and grateful for the historic donation from Golisano.
“His generosity is a testament to his faith in what we provide to Kentucky and her children — a promise to extend compassionate care, to more patients, closer to home,” Capilouto said. “We’ll translate his gift into acts of goodness to ensure a healthier, wealthier and wiser Kentucky.”
The UK Board of Trustees met Tuesday afternoon to officially accept the donation and approve the name changes.
“As part of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, UK HealthCare becomes part of a nationally recognized network of children’s hospitals that exemplifies excellence, dignity and innovation in pediatric health care,” Golisano said. “With this gift, I hope to further UK’s mission of advancing health care in the state and providing high-quality health care to children and families closer to home.”
The hospital first opened in 1997, and in 2005 was renamed Kentucky Children’s Hospital. It includes 210 beds across six units focused on care for children.
“The impact this gift will have for our hospital and the others receiving donations cannot be overstated. At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, we treat young people from all across the state,” said Scottie Day, physician-in-chief for Kentucky Children’s Hospital. “Knowing the life-changing resources this will bring to these children and their families in their greatest time of need is truly inspiring.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 11:10 AM.