NFL legend and Ole Miss icon Eli Manning is once again proving that his impact stretches far beyond the football field. This week, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) announced that Manning has donated an astonishing $14 million to its ongoing campaign to expand and improve its neonatal and pediatric care programs.
The generous donation—described by UMMC leaders as “hearts melting and hope inspiring”—will directly support the construction of state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), advanced equipment, family support services, and specialized training for medical staff caring for Mississippi’s most vulnerable newborns.
For Manning, this mission is deeply personal. “Mississippi has given so much to me and my family,” he said in a heartfelt statement. “I want every parent in this state to know that their babies will have the very best care, no matter where they’re born or what challenges they face.”
This isn’t the first time the two-time Super Bowl champion has championed children’s health in Mississippi. Manning and his wife, Abby, have long been passionate supporters of UMMC’s pediatric initiatives, helping to launch the Eli Manning Children’s Clinics and funding numerous upgrades to facilities over the past decade.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC’s Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, called Manning’s latest gift “transformational” for families across the state. “Eli’s generosity is about more than buildings and equipment—it’s about giving every Mississippi family hope during their most difficult days,” she said.
The expansion funded by Manning’s donation is expected to increase UMMC’s capacity to care for premature and critically ill infants, many of whom require highly specialized treatment that previously meant long travel for families.
As the Medical Center begins this next phase of growth, Manning’s legacy of compassion and community investment reminds everyone that true champions lift others—especially the tiniest among us.
