RIT unveils a new student-curated exhibit honoring B. Thomas Golisano’s decades of philanthropy and community impact

Rochester, New York – A new exhibit at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is shining a light on the far-reaching generosity and impact of entrepreneur and philanthropist B. Thomas Golisano. The display, titled “A Good Deal for Everyone,” was unveiled in the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences atrium, honoring the man whose spirit of giving has shaped lives and communities across the nation.

The exhibit, designed and curated by RIT students, offers a deeply personal look at Golisano’s 40 years of philanthropy through his Golisano Foundation. It highlights his dedication to fairness, compassion, and innovation — values that have guided both his business ventures and charitable work.

Members of the Golisano Foundation, along with Golisano’s sister, Marie Golisano Graham, attended the opening ceremony on October 22, reflecting on his enduring commitment to helping others. “It’s a beautiful exhibit that really fits in with the spirit of giving,” said Golisano Graham.

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The title of the installation takes its inspiration from one of Golisano’s guiding principles: “Be brave, be fair, act with integrity and above all, always strive to create a good deal for everyone.” That message is brought to life through a rich timeline of philanthropic milestones and recreated thank you cards from individuals and organizations touched by his generosity.

“When I think about the tangibility of Tom and Marie’s legacy, I always come back to the thank you cards,” said Landyn Hatch, innovation and engagement archivist in the RIT Archives. “Everyone can look at the cards hanging in this case and find something that relates to them.”

The thank you cards, displayed in colorful waves across the exhibit, serve as a visual symbol of gratitude — from children helped through healthcare initiatives to students whose education was made possible through scholarships. The RIT Archives continues to receive and preserve hundreds of such messages within the B. Thomas Golisano Collection, a growing record of community appreciation.

In 2024 alone, Golisano donated an astonishing $500 million to community organizations, including a $10 million contribution to RIT. His giving has supported everything from hospitals and schools to programs that promote inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — a cause that remains central to the mission of the Golisano Foundation.

Behind the exhibit’s creation is a talented group of RIT students who combined historical research with innovative design. Museum studies majors Nicole Feldman and Sophie Abatiell Tommola developed the overall concept, working closely with the RIT Archives to weave together artifacts, stories, and visuals that reflect the scale and heart of Golisano’s impact.

Fourth-year graphic design major Ashley Persia, part of the Command+g Design Lab — a women’s design collective within the College of Art and Design — brought the concept to life with a creative visual approach. “The waves in front of the thank you cards represent the waves of gratitude that people have for Mr. Golisano’s support,” said Persia. “It was amazing seeing something that I worked on go from an idea on a small screen to becoming a huge exhibit for everyone to enjoy.”

Another student, Amina Davila-Webster, also a fourth-year graphic design major, contributed to the exhibit by designing the historical timeline of Golisano’s giving. She noted that the timeline begins with a sketch of a printing calculator — the very machine Golisano used when developing Paychex, the payroll processing company he founded in 1971. The calculator, now preserved in the exhibit, serves as a reminder of his entrepreneurial roots and his belief that business success should create opportunities for others.

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Beyond chronicling his charitable efforts, the exhibit also recognizes the long partnership between the Golisano family and RIT. In 2015, Marie Golisano Graham donated the Golisano Collection to the RIT Archives, a cornerstone resource that continues to inspire new student-led projects and research. The team responsible for “A Good Deal for Everyone” even produced an additional timeline for the Wallace Library, documenting how past exhibits from the collection have evolved into meaningful campus traditions.

Visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to reflect not only on Golisano’s extraordinary achievements but also on the countless lives improved through his vision of fairness and inclusion. Through thoughtful storytelling, creative student collaboration, and heartfelt community engagement, the installation transforms a story of giving into a living legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

As attendees admired the display and read through the handwritten notes of gratitude, one message resonated clearly: philanthropy is not just about money — it’s about empathy, courage, and creating opportunities that ripple outward. The RIT exhibit captures that message perfectly, reminding visitors that the truest measure of success lies in what one gives back.