MORGANTOWN — WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital received an extraordinary boost Tuesday through a $28 million unrestricted gift from Thomas Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader whose vision and generosity have transformed communities and institutions across the United States.

The gift was presented by Golisano to a delegation of WVU Medicine senior leaders at the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship in Brighton, N.Y. WVU Medicine Children’s will now be known as WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s.

According to WVU Medicine officials, the investment will accelerate the hospital’s mission to provide world-class care for children and families across West Virginia and the broader region through both its main campus and its growing network of community-based pediatric clinics.

“Mr. Golisano’s gift is a powerful statement of belief in our mission and in the future of children’s health,” Michael A. Grace, president and CEO of West Virginia University Hospitals, said. “His generosity will help fuel innovation, expand pediatric services, and strengthen our ability to deliver life-changing care to children across our region.”

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s now joins nine other hospitals across the country as part of the newly created Golisano Children’s Alliance, a first-of-its-kind national network of children’s hospitals dedicated to sharing best practices in patient care, quality improvement, innovation, and inclusion.

The Alliance unites six newly funded children’s hospitals, including WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, with four existing Golisano-supported hospitals in New York and Florida. Together, the 10 hospitals will collaborate to strengthen pediatric care, expand access, and create a nationally recognized model of excellence in children’s health.

The other hospitals in the Alliance include:

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital

University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

University of Vermont Children’s Hospital

Golisano Children’s Hospitals at the University of Rochester Medical Center

Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University

Golisano Children’s Hospital Lee Health

John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital

“Mr. Golisano’s generosity does more than support WVU Medicine Children’s; it brings us into an alliance of like-minded hospitals dedicated to improving outcomes for children everywhere,” Dr. Christopher Mascio, executive chair of WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “Together, we will share knowledge, collaborate on innovation, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric care.”

Over the coming months, WVU Medicine Children’s will update signage and materials to reflect its new name. For now, the focus remains on celebrating this historic moment, one that strengthens WVU Medicine Children’s ability to care for kids throughout West Virginia and beyond.