Eli Manning Makes Hearts Melt with $14 Million Donation to University of Mississippi Medical Center for Neonatal and Children’s Care
In an inspiring act of generosity that has warmed hearts across the nation, former Ole Miss and NFL legend Eli Manning has donated a remarkable $14 million to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). The gift is part of a campaign aimed at dramatically improving neonatal and children’s care at the state’s only academic medical center — and the impact is expected to be life-changing.
UMMC made the announcement Monday morning, praising Manning’s unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of Mississippi’s youngest and most vulnerable patients. The donation marks one of the largest personal gifts in the institution’s history and continues Manning’s legacy of service to the state where he first made his name as a football icon.
“This is about more than just a donation,” Manning said in a statement released by UMMC. “This is about giving families hope. It’s about making sure that babies born too early or with serious health challenges have the very best chance to grow, thrive, and go home with the people who love them.”
The funds will support a major expansion and renovation of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and children’s hospital services. That includes the addition of state-of-the-art medical equipment, expanded family spaces to help parents stay close to their children, and enhanced staffing to meet the complex needs of neonatal patients.
Manning and his wife, Abby, have long been passionate supporters of children’s health initiatives. In 2009, they helped lead a $2.5 million fundraising effort to create the Eli Manning Children’s Clinics at Batson Children’s Hospital. This latest donation, however, takes their impact to an entirely new level.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, called Manning’s gift “transformational.”
“Eli Manning has always had a heart for Mississippi and a heart for children,” Woodward said. “This donation will enable us to provide world-class care to the tiniest patients — those who arrive too soon or with serious complications. It’s a gift of life, of love, and of leadership.”
Manning, who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles during his NFL career, remains a beloved figure in Oxford, Mississippi, where his storied college football career left a lasting imprint. But it’s his off-field legacy that continues to deepen. His latest donation is expected to touch thousands of families for generations to come.
“This is about community and compassion,” said Manning. “If we can give more babies a fighting chance and help more families stay together through the hardest days of their lives, then it’s all worth it.”
Construction on the expanded neonatal facilities is expected to begin later this year, with completion targeted for 2027. As Mississippi continues to rank among states with the highest infant mortality rates, Manning’s $14 million gift is a powerful investment in changing that narrative — one child at a time.
