Ole Miss alumni Eli and Abby Manning are donating $1 million to benefit a Mississippi children’s hospital.
Children’s of Mississippi Batson Children’s Hospital “Growing. So they can grow” capital campaign is a $100 million effort that will feature Eli and Abby as the public faces as well as honorary chairs of the campaign fundraising committee.
The campaign’s purpose is to expand and update the neonatal intensive care unit and add more pediatric ICU rooms and surgical suites. The hospital is part of University of Mississippi Medical Center.
This is the second time the Manning family has partnered with UMMC. Back in 2009, Eli raised more than $2.5 million to open the Eli Manning Children’s Clinic at Blair E. Batson’s Children’s Hospital in Jackson.
“Eli and Abby Manning have shown through their selfless actions the values they hold dear,” Travis Bradburn, UMMC chief development officer, said.
Bradburn said the hospital places great importance on family and wants Mississippi’s children to have the best healthcare available. Bradburn also said the capital campaign, “Growing. So they can grow,” will give children across the state the best care available in a state-of-the-art medical care environment.
Eli explained how, as a parent, he knows the importance of children’s healthcare quality.
“Abby and I are the parents of three precious daughters,” Eli said in a statement from the children’s hospital last week. He said he believes that all people should have quality healthcare close to home for their children.
Eli said in a statement that he and his wife joined the team because they want the best for the children in Mississippi and that supporting this campaign is another way to give the sickest children hope.
“Take it from me: there is no better feeling than knowing you played a part in giving a child a chance to grow up,” Eli Manning said.
Senior journalism major Jennifer Froning said she loves what the Manning family is doing to support children’s healthcare.
“I think it’s great that the Mannings have donated to the children’s hospital because they are willing to share their wealth with those in need, and this money will make a huge difference,” Froning said.
The first donation for the campaign came from Joe and Kathy Sanderson, who pledged $10 million. Joe Sanderson serves as CEO and board chair of Sanderson Farms and Kathy serves as the chair of the capital campaign.
“Philanthropists, such as Joe and Kathy Sanderson and Abby and Eli Manning, give their resources as well as their time to our cause (and it’s) inspiring and heart-warming. Their demonstration of leadership by example will help Mississippi families for decades to come,” Bradburn said.
Ole Miss Chancellor Jeff Vitter said he is proud of the Ole Miss family and of Eli and Abby and their philanthropy efforts.
LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs, said she believes it is time to update the Batson hospital, especially since it is the only children’s hospital in the state.
“We are thankful to Eli and Abby Manning for joining our team,” Woodward said. “The need is great. The stakes are high. We all own the responsibility to develop world-class facilities for our children.”
