Tom Golisano Recognition Guidelines

Congratulations on receiving a gift from Tom Golisano.

Now it’s time to share the good news with your key audiences and stakeholders including your local media, board members, employees, donors, and those who you support who will benefit from what this gift will make possible.

On this page you will find some helpful information to help you communicate your gift news and how to acknowledge Tom Golisano.

We are happy to review anything that you put together if you have any questions.

Communication Tactics

Gift Announcement News Release
Communicating to local media can help you publicize your good work and how this gift will help you achieve your goals such as expanding, better serving your constituents, building something new, or launching and/or expanding a new program.

  • Download this sample template to customize for your news. Photos always enhance a release and are encouraged. They may include a rendering of the proposed project or a photo with people you support.
  • Please notify us as to when you are sending it out.
  • Please send us a copy or link to your final release for our files.
  • Please also send us any photos of your project.

Internal / External Publications
Be sure to share the news in your print and digital newsletters and annual reports.

Social Media Announcements
Please tag Tom Golisano in your posts:

Press Events
If you are planning a press conference to announce a project that Tom Golisano has helped support:

  • Please contact Erica Dayton for names of individuals to include on your invitation list.
  • You may also request that someone be a part of the program and speak.
  • Please include Tom Golisano’s name in your news release, media advisories, and on any on-site signage as appropriate.

If this is a major event, such as a groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting, we are happy to be involved in the planning process and are available for media interviews. Please contact us in advance to arrange.

Crediting Tom Golisano in Ongoing Communication
When you are referencing the project funded on your website and in ongoing communication such as project updates, please credit Tom Golisano and provide a link to our website where appropriate.

  • Example: Funding for (your project) was made possible with a gift from entrepreneur, philanthropist and civic leader Tom Golisano.

Community Events
Please credit Tom Golisano at any public gatherings related to your gift in remarks and in signage.

Boilerplate
A boilerplate is a standard, general concise description of an organization that should be included at the end of every news release. It can also be used on your website and other places where you need to quickly communicate who you are with the essential elements. It is important that this language be updated regularly to be current and accurate.

For your gift press announcement in addition to your boilerplate, please include Mr. Golisano’s boilerplate:

About Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano, — entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader — is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. Mr. Golisano’s vision, perseverance, and action have left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives – in business, healthcare, education, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His investments are advancing entrepreneurship and driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals — including three children’s hospitals that bear his name — and numerous other organizations exceed $775 million.  A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Tom Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano Foundation to make the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding grants to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida. Mr. Golisano is the author of two Books, “Built Not Born,” a Wall Street Journal best seller and “The Italian Kid Did It.” Connect with him at Golisanofoundation.org, on Facebook, and X @ThomasGolisano and @TomGolisano on Instagram.

Tom Golisano and Golisano Foundation Logo Usage Guidelines
You are welcome to use Tom Golisano and or the Golisano Foundation logo if applicable in your social posts, on your website and publications, event signage, and other communication. See the bottom of this page to download the files. If you have any question as to what logo is most appropriate to use, please contact us and adhere to these guidelines:

  • These logos may not be altered in any way, including distortions, outlines, tilts, colorization, transparencies, or other special effects.
  • A clear space around the logo of at least 1.5X the size of the capital ‘G’ in Golisano is required on all sides.
  • If this is also a gift from the Golisano Foundation or Bailey & Friends, you may also download and use those logos.

Visual Acknowledgements

Donor recognition is personal and unique to your organization. This may include adding a name to a donor wall, creating a plaque, or naming a building, center, or program.

Naming & Signage

If you wish to use Tom Golisano’s name on a building, a center, an area of your organization or a program, please send us:

  • Your plan including the timeline, proposed name, font, dimensions, and materials
  • A rendering or elevation drawing of the proposed application, where and how it would appear on a wall or building, including any photos of the locations
  • Accompanying text for any companion plaque in an entry or lobby
  • List of other applications of where name would appear and be used, such as a directory, on websites, etc.

We will review your proposal and let you know if we have any suggestions or questions.

Once the naming and signage is approved and installed, please send us a photo for our files.

If you are holding an accompanying event to celebrate the unveiling of signage, please let us know in advance so that we may participate in the planning process and be present.

Recognition Plaques

Plaques come in all shapes and sizes and are typically chosen by the organization to be consistent with your signage, décor, budget and donor recognition system. Plaques are typically installed in or near the dedicated area made possible by the gift, in a lobby where there is significant traffic, or on a dedicated donor wall.

Depending on the size of the recognition signage, content may include:

  • Name of what the gift made possible
  • Thank you text, such as: In Honor of, or In Recognition, With Gratitude to, With our thanks to…Tom Golisano and for his vision, dedication, support etc. for how this funding is helping your organization and those you serve.
  • Text briefly describing how the center, service or program is helping those you serve.
  • Images (optional) of the building, of Tom Golisano, either a headshot that we will provide or a professional photo that has been taken at your organization that is relevant to the gift.
  • Date of gift, or date of an event being marked such as a building dedication, program launch etc.
  • Below is an example plaque in place at the University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health

Plaque Example

Once you have drafted the content for your plaque, we are happy to review it. Please send a PDF or jpeg of the layout and copy to Erica Dayton, Executive Director, Golisano Foundation.

Thank you for saying thanks to Tom in your communication, recognition signage and or event.

Please contact Erica Dayton if you have any questions.

Logo Downloads

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Additional Resources and Media Contacts
Dalmath Associates: 585-586-6650
Jean Dalmath: 585-755-6911
Amanda Antinore: 585-729-7533