Rochester, N.Y. – University of Rochester’s President Joel Seligman described Tom Golisano as “Our Generation's George Eastman.”Tom Golisano, a major contributor to the University of Rochester, pledged $20 Million for a new state of the art building solely dedicated to children.
Golisano’s pledge caught hospital staff off guard; they were only expecting a pledge of $18 Million.
“It will enable us to attract the best and the brightest pediatricians...to work in this wonderful new facility,” said C.E.O. of University of Rochester Medical Center Bradford Berk, M.D.
Golisano told a crowded room that he gives, not just because he can, but because it’s right.
“Our community deserves the best medical care and the most confident medical staff. I think we have it here, and I think it’s time we move on, escalate, make it bigger and better and stronger,” said Golisano.
Parents say can’t thank Golisano enough.
Parents like Cathy Jaworski, her 11-year-old son Roy Jaworski has been a patient at the children’s hospital since he was six; due to kidney problems.
"I'm extremely grateful and this hospital has been wonderful and to think it's even going to get better, is incredible. It literally brought tears to my eyes to think someone could be so kind to give to the children and their families,” Jaworski said.
The 200,000 square foot building will include pediatric imaging, a 60 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and 56 private pediatric rooms.The private rooms will be larger than the rooms in the current facility, allowing comfort for patients, families and caregivers.
The Jaworski family appreciates this. "Sometimes your neighbor can be great and other times it's hard, if there's lots of visitors and your son isn't feeling well, they're trying to sleep and the other parents are trying to cheer up their kid and vice versa.”
"It's going to be awesome and a bed for mom," Jaworski said with laughter.
Hospital officials have high hopes that this new building will help attract the best and the brightest. They also believe the new building will serve as the standard for children’s hospitals across the country as they work to modernize.
The new children’s hospital will provide easy access directly from Crittenden Boulevard. URMC hopes to begin construction as early as August 2012, pending state approval.
It is estimated, the project will be finished in February of 2015.
