Manning Family Children’s Louisiana Legacy celebration raises $1 million for new NICU, honors Betty Lauricella

Hosted by the Manning family, the second annual event celebrated Lauricella’s 42 years of board service and supported the hospital’s new, 60-bed Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

NEW ORLEANS – An extraordinary evening was had as Manning Family Children’s hosted the 2nd annual Louisiana Legacy celebration at the Orpheum Theater on Thursday, October 1. The signature fundraising event raised nearly $1 million in support of the hospital’s new, 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)—a transformational project that will serve as a lifeline of care for Louisiana’s littlest.

400 patrons and supporters gathered for the celebratory occasion, hosted by Olivia and Archie Manning and Ellen and Cooper Manning, and co-chaired by Courtney and Ted Le Clercq and Tina and Barry Kern. The evening honored the 2026 Louisiana Legacy Award recipient, cherished community member and philanthropist Betty Lauricella.

Through 42 years of active service on the hospital’s Board of Trustees, Lauricella has helped shape many significant chapters of the hospital’s story. She was the first woman to chair the board in the early 1990s, a steadfast advocate for Louisiana’s children at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, and a champion of critical investments such as the recent campus expansion, and the new NICU project.

“Betty has always reminded us that every thriving community needs a thriving children’s hospital—and because of her advocacy and unwavering belief in Louisiana’s children, we have exactly that,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children’s. “Her legacy is measured in the birthdays, first steps and bright futures of the children we care for, and we were honored to celebrate her with the distinguished Louisiana Legacy award.”

The celebration began with a Patron Party set to the sounds of an electronic violinist, as guests were welcomed with lively conversation, champagne and passed hors-d'oeuvres. Throughout the night, patrons enjoyed a gourmet cocktail and dining experience in the historic Orpheum Theater, along with live entertainment.

The evening highlighted four inspiring patient stories, including premature twin sisters Alora and Amaya, who spent 142 and 84 days, respectively, in the hospital’s Level IV NICU, with Alora undergoing lifesaving intestinal surgery; Jackson Breaux, whose 113-day NICU journey underscored the importance of specialized newborn and follow-up care; Daniel Cressy, who received groundbreaking, curative gene therapy for sickle cell disease; and Peyton Stewart, who celebrated his recovery from a rare immune disorder after a lifesaving bone marrow transplant with his brother Acie as his donor.

The program featured a fireside chat with Archie and Cooper Manning alongside culinary icons Emeril Lagasse and E.J. Lagasse, two generations of chefs who share a passion for exceptional food, hospitality and giving back to the community; comedian and content creator Josh Mancuso moderated the exciting conversation that celebrated New Orleans food, football, and culture.

Guests also enjoyed live performances by the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, and singer-songwriter Kristin Diable.

Two lucky winners were drawn live on stage in the 2026 Louisiana Legacy Luxury Jewelry Raffle, made possible through the generosity of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. Prizes included a Steel Cartier Tank Watch and David Yurman Cable Elements Pavé Diamond Drop Earrings. The first raffle winner was Corey Rosales, winning the David Yurman earrings. The Cartier watch was awarded to the second winner, David Haydel Sr.

“To see this community come together once again for Louisiana’s children is something our whole family is proud of,” said Archie Manning, the hospital’s namesake and legendary Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback. “Every dollar raised brings us closer to a new NICU that will give our littlest Louisianans the strongest possible start, right here at home.”

Funds raised through Louisiana Legacy will support the hospital’s new, 60-bed Level IV NICU, expected to be completed in mid-2027. As the region’s only Level IV NICU with every medical and surgical sub-specialty under one roof, Manning Family Children’s serves as a lifeline for critically ill and premature newborns from across Louisiana and the Gulf South.

Designed for complexity and built for growth, the expanded unit will feature the advanced technology, specialized resources and family-centered spaces needed to deliver optimal outcomes for the tiniest lives and the families who love them.

Manning Family Children’s extends its deepest gratitude to the Manning family, co-chairs Courtney and Ted Le Clercq and Tina and Barry Kern, its premier sponsors, LLOG / Harbour Energy, The Haslam Family Foundation, Lauricella Land Company and Elmwood Center, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Paretti Land Rover, and the many sponsors and guests who made the evening possible.

The community can continue to support the new NICU and help make more miracles, more birthdays and more first steps possible at www.manningchildrens.org/newnicu.

Tickets are also still available for the Rev Up Your Luck Land Rover Car Raffle – now through Dec. 17. Get tickets here.

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About Manning Family Children’s

For more than 70 years, Manning Family Children’s has proudly served as Louisiana’s number one ranked, and only freestanding, comprehensive children’s hospital with more than 600 pediatric-trained providers and 3,000 employees solely dedicated to the care of kids. In addition to comprehensive services offered at its main campus in New Orleans, Children’s operates a robust network of more than 30 satellite locations, pediatric affiliations across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and robust and long-serving community programs designed to meet the health needs of the diverse communities it serves. At the heart of its mission, Manning Family Children’s is committed to delivering expert care for every child, every time—regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

Manning Family Children’s is proud to be ranked the #1 children’s hospital in Louisiana and among the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals for 2026-2027 by U.S. News & World Report, with four programs—Urology, Nephrology, Cancer and Neonatology—recognized among the top 50 nationally. The hospital has also been recognized among Newsweek’s 2027 World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for pediatrics as the only ranked hospital in Louisiana for the sixth year in a row.