The Diocese of Syracuse Catholic Schools presented a check for $27,686 today to the Upstate Foundation to benefit the Golisano Center for Special Needs. The money was raised in May as each school held a walkathon to raise the funds.

The check presentation was made June 21 in front of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Many students and families attended the presentation.

William Crist, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, thanked the gathering of students and parents for their fundraising efforts. “This walkathon helped us live our faith by helping those in need, providing services through action. We are so pleased and proud to be able to make this contribution.”

Julie Galler Simms of the Upstate Foundation thanked the Catholic schools for their impressive showing.  “This is about students helping students, families helping families.”

“You kids rock,” said Hank Roane, PhD, after hearing of the contribution of more than $27,000 a Roane is professor of pediatrics and division chief of the Center for Development, Behavior and Genetics at Upstate, who serves as the director of Golisano Center for Special Needs. Roane said one of the reasons for the new special needs center is the promise it holds to see more patients, more quickly, and contributions such as this can help make that possible.

The center provides care to individuals diagnosed with developmental or intellectual disabilities or individuals who require specialized care, from childhood to earlier adult. The center encompasses several departments and specialty areas located at a handful of Upstate locations. The newest is a fully renovated space inside Madison-Irving Medical Center.

Philanthropist and Paychex founder Tom Golisano donated $3 million for the center and the Upstate Foundation continues to raise funds to support and expand its services.