Media Advisory                                                      October 13, 2017
MEDIA CONTACTS
Dalmath Associates (585) 586-6650
  Jean Dalmath ( 585) 755-6911
  Amanda Antinore (585) 729-7533
RIT to Honor Tom Golisano's Contributions as Champion of Global Health at  Celebration on October 20
New Golisano Archives Exhibit Will Be Unveiled -- 
Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics to Speak on Global Inclusive Health Progress 
WHAT
Tom Golisano will be honored at RIT for his contributions to global health, specifically through Special Olympics in a new Golisano Archives exhibit to be unveiled on Oct. 20. Golisano and Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International, will speak at the celebration about the ways that Special Olympics™ Healthy Communities initiative - made possible by significant gifts from Golisano - is opening doors for people with intellectual disabilities around the world.  

Healthy Communities was launched in 2012 and expanded in 2015 with gifts totaling $37 million from Tom Golisano. Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, will speak at the celebration, about the significant progress that has been made.

Tim Shriver
"Since 1985, Tom Golisano has been a true champion for the health rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities worldwide," said Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International. 

"As a tireless advocate for the Special Olympics movement, Tom and the Golisano Foundation enable and empower communities of care, where the contributions of people with intellectual disabilities are better understood, encouraged and valued by all. Tom's financial support to Special Olympics, which has exceeded any single contributor in the 50-year history of the organization, has served as a catalyst to grow this global movement as a force for positive social change and inclusion, improving over the years the health of countless athletes around the world. His investments in both time and money to the cause of intellectual disabilities has no parallel, and we are immensely grateful for his continued support and partnership."

Media is invited to this invitation event. Please note, this event is not open to the public. The new Golisano Archives exhibit will be available for the public to view starting October 21. 

WHO
* Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex and philanthropist
* Timothy P. Shriver, PhD, Chairman of the board for Special Olympics International
* David Munson, RIT President
* Ann Costello, Executive Director, Golisano Foundation
* Joshua Agara, Special Olympics Health Ambassador from Kenya
 
WHEN
Friday Oct. 20, 2017
*  3-3:45 p.m - Exhibit viewing and media interviews with Tom Golisano, Tim Shriver and Ann Costello
* 4-5:30 p.m. - Program including noted speakers, and a short video. A reception will follow.

WHERE
Golisano Hall auditorium and atrium is in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences on the RIT campus.  Parking is free in Lot J.  Walk to Golisano Hall (marked "GOL" on the map). To view a map, go to maps.rit.edu.

Healthy Communities

* Healthy Communities is a model global health initiative launched by Special Olympics in 2012 to reduce the severe health disparities that exist for people with intellectual disabilities both in accessing essential health services and improving their health status. 

With philanthropic support of $37 million from Tom Golisano and the commitment of numerous global partners and volunteers, Healthy Communities is now opening doors to year-round access to health care in people's communities in 54 countries on six continents. Its success has been driven by creating sustainable systems and community level changes to existing healthcare infrastructure and environments where there is no wrong door to walk through and all people with intellectual disabilities can attain the same level of health and wellbeing as others. 

In 2017 the first Golisano Global Health Awards were presented in Austria to seven honorees for their exceptional contributions to inclusive health. 
Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano  - entrepreneur, philanthropist and civic leader - is the founder and chairman of the Board of  Paychex, Inc. , headquartered in Rochester, New York. With more than 12,000 employees and 100 office locations nationwide, Paychex is a leading national provider of payroll, human resource and benefit outsourcing solutions for more than a half-million small and medium-sized businesses. Golisano served as Paychex's president and chief executive officer from 1971, when he founded the company, until October 2004.

* In 1985, Golisano started the Golisano Foundation to support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so that they may achieve their maximum potentials by integrating independence, self-determination and productivity into all facets of their lives.

* Two buildings on the RIT campus carry the Golisano name . In 2001, Golisano made a $14 million gift to RIT, enabling that university to launch the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. The building opened in May 2003. In 2007, he donated $10 million to RIT to create the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, one of the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on research and education in sustainable design, pollution prevention, remanufacturing and alternative energy development.

* In 2014, RIT was selected as the home for Golisano's archives. The collection is housed with the RIT Archives Collection in The Wallace Center. A display is on view for the public to see in the atrium of Golisano Hall, the home of RIT's B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.