VIDEO: Children’s Museum of Naples receives $5M donation from billionaire

NAPLES — The Children’s Museum of Naples hasn’t opened its doors yet, but it’s already getting a new name.

Museum Executive Director Joe Cox announced Monday the museum will be known from now on as The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples.

Billionaire Tom Golisano gave the museum a $5 million challenge grant a few weeks ago. A challenge grant means Golisano will give the museum the money, provided it can raise an equivalent amount.

“I would like to congratulate this organization for putting together a project that is so worthwhile,” he said. “This community is very fortunate to have a children’s museum. We have a children’s museum in the town I was born in — Rochester, New York — and it is a hit, not just with children, but with families as well.”

Cox said it was wonderful to receive a large donation from a community member who has the same vision as those on the museum’s staff and board. He said the donation also provides the community with a wonderful opportunity.

“What a wonderful way, whether you can donate $1 or $1 million to have your money matched one-to-one with a grant,” he said. “If you donate $10 on our Web site, it is now worth $20. It is a wonderful way for the community to come together.”

Golisano said he is honored to have his name on the building.

“It’s an extra benefit. The Board of Directors voted to do it and it makes me very happy. But it wasn’t a deal-breaker,” he said with a laugh.

Golisano has already given the museum a $2 million “down payment” on the funds.

“In these economic times, I wanted to do something that would help the facility,” he said. “The community should be pretty proud of what this group has put together.”

Since moving to Naples last year, Golisano has made his mark on Collier County. His donation to the Children’s Museum is the second multi-million dollar donation he has made in a year. Golisano, who is the founder of Paychex and co-owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, also donated $4 million to Ave Maria University for the construction of its athletic complex.

The philanthropist admits this is his first foray into the world of children’s museums.

“Normally, I am focused on hospitals and colleges,” he said. “But this was a wonderful opportunity.”

Simone Lutgert, the capital campaign chairwoman for the museum and a member of the board, said the donation is the shot in the arm the museum needed.

“It gave us new life. We were growing, but Tom’s donation is the fertilizer on the tree,” she said. “He listened to our pitch and he raked us through the coals, questioning every piece of it. And we passed. He is saying he believes in us. We’re thrilled.”

The museum has raised $21 million so far in a campaign to raise $25 million, Cox said. Lutgert said the museum’s board has worked to pay for everything in cash, with money raised and grants.

She said the money provided by Golisano will continue to move the project forward. The 30,000-square-foot museum, which is located across from the Sun ‘n Fun Lagoon in the North Collier Regional Park, is scheduled to open in spring 2011, although no exact date has been set.

“We hope this encourages those donors who might have been on the fence and step up to the plate,” Lutgert said. “We don’t want them to miss out on leaving this incredible legacy for the community.”

For more information or to help, visit www.cmon.org or call (239) 784-1879.