Avera announced receipt of a $35 million donation from philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano, the largest single gift in the health system’s history, designated for the Tomorrow’s Promise Campaign supporting pediatric care. In recognition of the gift, the new children’s hospital at Avera McKennan will be named the Avera Golisano Children’s Hospital.
The donation will support construction of a six-story, 220,000 square foot patient care tower with a total project cost of $165 million. The facility is expected to open in early 2027 and will serve newborns, children, and families across the Avera system spanning five states. The tower will enhance care delivery, expand access to critical behavioral health services, increase local specialist capacity with more timely services, and provide space for families to remain close to loved ones during treatment and recovery.
According to Avera leadership, the Avera McKennan children’s health program supports the entire Avera system through specialty and sub-specialty pediatrics care, along with telemedicine and virtual support to rural areas, enabling families to remain close to home when possible. Golisano’s investment was framed as addressing the fundamental principle that children and families should not need to travel long distances to access quality care.
The gift represents the culmination of efforts led by Avera’s more than 20,000 annual supporters. Avera emphasized that philanthropic support enables the system to expand programs and capabilities to serve the next generation. The hospital is part of a broader effort to transform pediatric care access and outcomes across the region, with leadership noting that the investment will benefit children and families for generations to come through enhanced services and specialist availability.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/20/avera-receives-largest-single-gift-its-history-supporting-pediatric-care/