Avera Health announced it has received a $35 million donation from philanthropist and entrepreneur B. Thomas Golisano to support pediatric care and the ongoing Tomorrow’s Promise Campaign. The contribution is the largest single gift in the organization’s history.
In recognition of the donation, the new children’s hospital inside Avera McKennan’s patient care tower in Sioux Falls will be named the Avera Golisano Children’s Hospital.
According to Avera, the funding will help support construction of the six-story, $165 million patient care tower dedicated to newborns, children and families. The project is expected to expand hospital capacity, increase access to specialists and behavioral health services, and create more family-centered care spaces.
Avera said the donation also strengthens efforts to provide more pediatric services closer to home across its five-state region through telemedicine, virtual support and expanded programs.
The new women’s and children’s addition at Avera McKennan is scheduled to open in early 2027. The six-story tower will add 220,000 square feet of hospital space for birthing, newborn nursery and pediatric care.
Avera also announced it is joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, a national network of children’s hospitals focused on improving pediatric care and expanding access for families.
