Tom Golisano gives $5 million for new Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Center

Tom Golisano, philanthropist and namesake of UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospital, has pledged $5 million to support construction of a new Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, providing the greater Rochester community a new, critically-needed home base for child and adolescent behavioral health services.

“I am pleased to partner with URMC to build the new Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Center, which will address gaps in care and accommodate more clinical staff to help reduce the number of children on the wait list for services,” said Golisano. “Now, when we talk about providing comprehensive care to children and their families, we can include expanded and enhanced behavioral health services. I’m confident that Golisano Children’s Hospital will become a leader in this field.”

The $10 million building, estimated at 30,000 sq. ft., will be located near the intersection of South Avenue and Science Parkway, next door to the planned location of the Golisano Autism Center, a collaborative venture between Al Sigl Community of Agencies, AutismUp, and CP Rochester. Construction on both buildings is expected to begin next spring, with completion of the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center slated for 2019.

Michael A. Scharf, M.D., Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said he is excited to partner with his future neighbors in the Golisano Autism Center. Discussions have already begun on how the two groups — URMC and the Al Sigl Family of Agencies — can collaborate to better serve youth, families, and other community providers.

“Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Golisano, we anticipate this location will become the regional hub, both for providing comprehensive care and for educating families and other providers about how best to meet the needs of the children and families we serve,” said Scharf.