From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tom Golisano
Tom Golisano
B. Thomas Golisano Golisano challenged New York Governor George Pataki
as the candidate of the Independence Party. By receiving
more than 50,000 votes each time, Golisano brought the
Independence Party an automatic ballot line for the suc-
ceeding four years. There was speculation that he would
run for governor on the Republican ticket, but he an-
nounced on May 15, 2009 that he was moving to Florida
to escape New York state taxes.[4]
Charity
Golisano has become a major philanthropist, founding
the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation in 1985, which
awards grants to organizations dedicated to providing
opportunities for those with disabilities and offering sup-
Tom Golisano, 2006
port to their families.[5] Golisano has donated over 6%
Born Blase Thomas Golisano of his net worth ($1.3 billion) to charity. He has made
November 14, 1941 (1941-11-14) [1] major donations to fund health care and leading educa-
Residence Naples, Florida, USA tional centers. He donated $14 million in February 2001
to the Rochester Institute of Technology to fund the B.
Citizenship American
Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information
Alma mater Alfred State College Sciences. Golisano donated $14 million to the University
of Rochester, which re-named their pediatric facility at
Occupation businessman and philanthropist
Strong Memorial Hospital in his honor as the Golisano
Known for Founder of Paychex, founding member of Children’s Hospital in 2002. In October 2003, Golisano do-
Independence Party of New York nated $5 million to Nazareth College, which named the
Net worth US $ 1.4 billion (est.) new Golisano Academic Center in his honor. On March
(February 2010)[1] 6, 2006, Golisano donated $6 million to Bishop Kearney
High School and Our Lady of Mercy High School. In
Spouse Divorced, 2 children
September 2007, with a $10 million donation, Golisano
Website launched the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the
www.golisano.com
Rochester Institute of Technology.
On October 8, 2008, Golisano donated $10 million to
Blase Thomas Golisano (born November 14, 1941) is an Niagara University for a new Center for Integrated
American businessman and philanthropist. He is the Science building that will be named in his honor. On
founder of Paychex, the second-largest payroll processor the list of contributors to the Clinton Foundation, which
in the United States and former co-owner (along with the foundation released in December 2008 as part of an
real estate developer Larry Quinn) of the Buffalo Sabres arrangement with the Obama administration, Golisano is
hockey team and of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team. He listed as having given between $10 million and $25 milli-
officially sold the team and its assets to multi-billionaire on.[6] In November 2009, Golisano donated $4 million to
Terrence Pegula in February 2011; Golisano is currently Ave Maria University for the construction of a new field
in the process of preparing a bid for the bankrupt Los An- house.[7]
geles Dodgers franchise as of November 2011.[2] Golisano
has an associate’s degree from Alfred State College. Political involvement
He is a founding member of the Independence Party
After New York’s Republican Governor George Pataki an-
of New York, and ran for governor of New York in 1994,
nounced he would not run again in the 2006 elections,
1998 and 2002 on its ticket. Although he lost each time,
GOP officials attempted to recruit Golisano to run for the
he increased his percentage of the vote. He spent a com-
Republican nomination. Golisano changed his party affil-
bined $93 million on the three campaigns.[3] In 2002,
iation to the GOP (with the Independence Party’s chair-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tom Golisano
man’s blessing) in October 2005, apparently in prepara- • 2008 “Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year”
tion for another gubernatorial run. However, on Febru- presented by the University at Buffalo School of
ary 1, 2006, Golisano announced that he would not run Management Alumni Asssocation
for the governorship.[8] • David T. Kearns Medal of Distinction - recognizing
In August 2008, Golisano contributed $1 million to the significant achievements in business, public service
Democratic National Convention.[9] and education, by the University of Rochester’s
In July 2008, Golisano formed a PAC called Responsi- William E. Simon Graduate School of Business
ble New York. He funded it with $5 million of his own Administration
money. The PAC gives money to candidates for the New • Rochester Business Hall of Fame (2001)
York state legislature, regardless of party. The PAC is • The 1987 Herbert W. VandenBrul Entrepreneurial
aiming to support candidates in favor of property tax Award, presented by Rochester Institute of
cuts and election reform.[9] Technology’s College of Business
In October 2008, Golisano voiced his opinion in favor • "Master Entrepreneur" award in Ernst & Young’s
of term limits for public offices in the City of New York. Entrepreneur of the Year awards competition for
Golisano has vowed to fight Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Western New York
proposal to extend term limits, arguing that the people • The "Distinguished Citizen of the Year" award from
of New York city have voted twice in favor of the current the Otetiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America
law.[10] • Shumway Distinguished Service Award from Family
In June 2009, Golisano took partial credit for the Service of Rochester
Republican seizure of control in the 2009 New York State • Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the
Senate leadership crisis. Golisano, who had supported a Boy’s Town of Italy, and the Commerce and Industry
number of Democratic Party candidates during the 2008 Award of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
election, was dissatisfied with, among other things, the • Outstanding Alumni Award from the American
Democratic plan to solve the state’s budget crisis by rais- Association of Community Colleges
ing taxes on New York’s wealthiest residents. He orches- • Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Nazareth
trated the defection of Democratic senators Pedro Espada College in May 2002.
Jr. and Hiram Monserrate, who voted with Republicans to • Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from St. John Fisher
reinstall Dean Skelos as majority leader.[11] College in Rochester, N.Y.
In February 2011, Golisano became the spokesman • Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Roberts
for National Popular Vote Inc., a non-profit organization Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y.
seeking to implement a popular vote system for presi- In 2003, Mr. Golisano was awarded the first-ever Humani-
dential elections by harnessing the Electoral College.[12] tarian Award by the Italian-American Community Center
in Rochester.
Personal life
Thrice divorced, Golisano has been dating former tennis
References
star Monica Seles since 2009.[13][14] [1] ^ "The World’s Billionaires: #721 B. Thomas
Golisano". Forbes. March 3, 2010.
Electoral history http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/
• • George Pataki (R) (inc.), 49% billionaires-2010_B-Thomas-Golisano_BBWS.html.
• Carl McCall (D), 34% [2] Golisano talks about Dodgers bid Retrieved
• Tom Golisano (I), 14% 2011-11-11.
• • George Pataki (R) (inc.), 54% [3] Freakonomics revised and expanded edition, page
• Peter Vallone (D), 33% 7
• Tom Golisano (I), 8% [4] Why I’m Leaving New York,
• • George Pataki (R), 49% niagarafallsreporter.com, Guest View by Tom
• Mario Cuomo (D) (inc.), 45% Golisano
• Tom Golisano (I), 4% [5] Golisano Foundation Site :: Home
[6] The William J. Clinton Foundation, "Contributor
Information."
Awards and honors [7] Ave Maria University press release, Nov. 5, 2009
Golisano has received recognition for his business [8] "Politics - NY Daily News". Daily News (New York).
prowess and philanthropy, including: August 27, 2010. http://www.nydailynews.com/
news/politics/story/387414p-328759c.html.
[9] ^ 8-20-2008 - "NY Republican Tom Golisano gives
big money to Democratic convention" - Muckety
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tom Golisano
Party political offices
Preceded by Independence Party Nominee for Governor of Succeeded by
Party Didn’t Exist New York Eliot Spitzer
1994, 1998, and 2002
[10] http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/87565/
council-to-vote-on-term-limits-issue-on-thursday/
External links
Default.aspx • Tom Golisano’s Web Page
[11] Peters, Jeremy W.; Hakim, Danny (June 8, 2009). • B. Thomas Golisano Foundation
"Republicans Seize Control of State Senate". The • Forbes.com: Forbes World’s Richest People
New York Times. • Forbes.com: Forbes 400 Richest in America 2004
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/ • Golisano Children’s Hospital
revolt-could-imperil-democratic-control-of- • Golisano Children’s Hospital at Upstate
senate/. Retrieved May 25, 2010. Persondata
[12] Spector, Joseph (February 22, 2011). "Tom Golisano
Name Golisano, Tom
to help effort to end Electoral College". Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle. Alternative names
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/ Short description
20110222/NEWS01/102220330/-1/webster/Tom- Date of birth November 14, 1941
Golisano-help-effort-end-Electoral-
Place of birth
College?odyssey=nav%7Chead. Retrieved February
22, 2011. Date of death
[13] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-20/ Place of death
bankers-join-billionaires-to-debunk-imbecile-
attack-on-top-1-.html
[14] http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/archive/
Seles-Nets-Billionaire-Twice-Her-Age.html
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Golisano&oldid=468685217"
Categories:
• American businesspeople
• American billionaires
• People from Rochester, New York
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• National Hockey League executives
• National Hockey League owners
• American people of Italian descent
• Ave Maria University
• 1942 births
• Living people
• Independence Party of New York politicians
• Alfred State College alumni
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