A Defining Moment: How a Historic Gift is Shaping the Future for Children's Healthcare in Northern Nevada

On Sept. 10, 2026, Renown Health shared a vision decades in the making: plans to build northern Nevada's first freestanding children's hospital, made possible by a transformative $40 million gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, the largest philanthropic gift in Renown's history.

For many, the announcement was a celebration. For others, it was a moment of validation. Together, it was confirmation that the vision our caregivers, donors and this community have been building toward is not only possible, but already underway.

A Vision Years in the Making

Unveiling plans for a freestanding children’s hospital did not begin with one gift; instead, it began with families who chose to support pediatric care. It grew through generations of donors who invested in Renown's mission and took shape through clinicians, physicians and caregivers who committed themselves to delivering exceptional care for children close to home.

As Renown's pediatric services have grown, so has the need. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of pediatric patients served by Renown increased by 13%, reflecting both the rapid growth of northern Nevada and the increasing demand for specialized pediatric care.

The vision for a dedicated children's hospital emerged from a simple but powerful reality: children deserve a space designed specifically for them, and families deserve access to high-quality care without leaving the region they call home. The future hospital will help expand capacity, bring services together, support recruitment of more specialists and create an environment intentionally designed for healing, learning and family-centered care.

Why This Gift Matters

Tom Golisano has invested more than $1 billion in philanthropic causes across the country, including children's hospitals that carry the Golisano name. Yet what makes this investment especially meaningful is that he had no direct ties to northern Nevada.

Instead, he saw something worthy of investment.

He saw a health system with a clear vision. He saw dedicated caregivers and strong leadership. Most importantly, he saw a community that had already proven its commitment to improving healthcare for children and families.

The gift serves as a powerful endorsement of Renown's future and the momentum that has been building throughout the region. It reflects a belief that northern Nevada is ready for this next chapter and capable of achieving it.

More Than a Local Milestone

The announcement also welcomed Renown into the Golisano Children's Alliance, a national network of children's hospitals dedicated to advancing pediatric healthcare. Renown became one of six new members and the westernmost member of the alliance.

Through the alliance, Renown joins 21 children's hospitals committed to sharing best practices, strengthening collaboration, advancing innovation and improving pediatric healthcare delivery across the country.

For children and families in northern Nevada, that means access to ideas, expertise and innovation that extend far beyond state lines while keeping care close to home. It is an opportunity to bring national collaboration back to local families.

A Day Worth Celebrating

The excitement surrounding the announcement was felt long before the public event began.

The Golisano Foundation's national announcement went live at 6 a.m., formally introducing the transformational gift. Just minutes later, Foundation leaders, children's hospital leadership and members of Renown's President's Council visited inpatient units to personally share the news with caregivers whose work helped make the vision possible.

Later that morning, donors, elected officials, healthcare leaders, patients, community members and families gathered in the John & Sue Dermody Children's Healing Garden for a celebration that reflected both gratitude and optimism. Speakers shared stories, children took part in activities and the community came together around a shared belief in what the future could hold for generations of northern Nevada families.

The Impact Starting to Take Shape

Planning is already underway for the future freestanding children's hospital on the Renown Regional Medical Center campus. This is only the beginning of a broader season of momentum rather than a single milestone.

The vision that inspired Tom Golisano's investment is now shared by an entire region: a future where children and families have access to the highest quality pediatric care close to home, where innovation and compassion go hand-in-hand and where northern Nevada continues to invest boldly in the next generation.

The announcement on Sept. 10 was historic. And if the excitement, gratitude and community pride felt that day were any indication, the story is just getting started.