The Upstate Foundation celebrates 50 years of impact and commitment
50th highlights…
In 2026, the Upstate Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of advancing patient care, education, research, and community health and well-being at Upstate Medical University and across Central New York. Since its incorporation in 1976, the Upstate Foundation has grown into a vital philanthropic partner supporting not only Upstate’s mission as an academic medical university but also strengthening the broader network of community organizations that serve the region’s most vulnerable populations.
The Upstate Foundation’s early investments laid the groundwork for critical services that continue to benefit patients and families today. Among its first milestones were support for the Central New York Burn Treatment Unit in 1979, the opening of the Regional Oncology Center in 1983, and the establishment of key endowments in neurosurgery, pathology and pediatrics. In 1984, the Upstate Foundation became one of the first members of the Children’s Miracle Network, creating an annual fund for pediatric services, and reinforcing a long-standing commitment to children and families both within and beyond Upstate.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, philanthropy fueled growth in emergency services, specialty care and academic excellence. Foundation support helped bring a heliport into service, expand the pediatric transport program, launch multidisciplinary clinical initiatives, and establish endowed professorships that strengthened education and research. During this period, the Upstate Foundation also began deepening its engagement with community partners whose missions aligned with improving health outcomes, access to care and quality of life across Central New York.
“For 38 years, the Upstate Foundation connected the generosity of our donors to the mission and priorities of Upstate,” said Eileen Pezzi, MPA, vice president for development at Upstate. “Every campaign, endowment and program reflected a shared belief that investing in people, patients, students, faculty and staff, had the power to transform health care and our community. In 2014, we took the significant step of changing our status from a supporting organization to a public charity so the Upstate Foundation could have a wider and more direct impact on the region’s health and well-being.”
That transition marked an important evolution. As a public charity, the Upstate Foundation expanded its ability to support community-based organizations addressing social determinants of health, childhood illness, mental health, access to services and family support while continuing its deep commitment to Upstate Medical University. Donor generosity increasingly flowed to initiatives that bridged clinical care with community need, amplifying impact far beyond hospital walls.
The 2000s represented a transformative era, with major capital campaigns reshaping care delivery in Central New York. The Upstate Foundation raised more than $21 million toward the 2009 opening of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, including a landmark naming gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano. This momentum continued with the successful $20 million campaign for the Upstate Cancer Center which opened in 2014, followed by investments in pediatric emergency services, maternity care and geriatric emergency medicine.
In 2011, the Upstate Foundation expanded its reach following Upstate’s acquisition of Community General Hospital and the merger of the two foundations. New initiatives including a Grateful Patient and Family Program, named and legacy giving programs, charitable gift annuities and donor-advised funds further strengthened philanthropic engagement and enabled donors to support both institutional priorities and community-based causes for which they cared deeply.
“The Upstate Foundation has been instrumental in helping Upstate grow, innovate and respond to the needs of our patients and communities,” said Mantosh Dewan, MD, president of Upstate Medical University. “Its impact is visible not only in the facilities and programs it has helped bring to life, but in the partnerships and community investments that improve lives across our region.”
In recent years, the Foundation has supported expanded mental health services through its Child & Adolescent Mental Health Campaign, and helped bring to Central New York the Golisano Center for Special Needs in 2021 and the Golisano Children’s Pavilion in 2024, facilities that serve as regional resources for families and community organizations alike.
From $1.9 million in assets in its first decade to more than $310 million today, the Upstate Foundation’s 50-year legacy is defined by growth, gratitude and an unwavering commitment to strengthening Upstate Medical University and the communities it serves now and for generations to come. For a timeline of the Upstate Foundation’s evolution and advancements over the past five decades, or to record a tribute video, visit https://www.upstatefoundation.org/50th.