Louisiana children’s hospital renamed for famed football family

Archie Manning spent most of his pro football career in New Orleans.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans has announced its new name: Manning Family Children’s. The hospital announced the partnership with the Manning Family: Archie and his wife, Olivia, and their sons, Peyton, Eli, and Cooper.

Of course, two of his sons, Peyton and Eli, reached even bigger heights in the NFL, with both winning two Super Bowls.

Now, the Manning family name will appear on a New Orleans institution.

This week, Children’s Hospital New Orleans unveiled its new name: Manning Family Children’s. The hospital announced the partnership with the Manning Family: Archie and his wife, Olivia, and their sons, Peyton, Eli, and Cooper.

The pediatric hospital, part of LCMC Health, said the rebranding reflects a “transformational partnership” with the Manning Family, though the hospital didn’t disclose the size of the gift.

The system said the partnership will expand healthcare services for children across Louisiana and the Gulf South. The new name comes as the pediatric system celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

"The Manning Family's transformational commitment underscores their belief in this mission, inspiring us to continue delivering excellence in health care, and to transform pediatric health outcomes – together,” Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health, said in a statement.

Archie Manning said in a statement from the health system that the family is hoping that partnership will lead to “a brighter future for kids and families together.”

"Our family has always believed in the importance of giving back to the community that has given so much to us,” he said. “Renaming Children's Hospital New Orleans to Manning Family Children's is a symbol of our shared commitment to providing children with the best possible care and support, right here at home, and for generations to come.”

In addition to the facility adding the Manning name, the pediatric system also drops the word “hospital” from its title. The move meshes with the organization’s focus on trying to improve the health of children and address their needs before they go to the hospital.

Lucio A. Fragoso, president and CEO of Manning Family Children's, spoke with Chief Healthcare Executive® last year about the organization’s work to get out into the community and help kids stay healthy. He said the organization is working with 180 schools in the New Orleans region to meet the mental and physical needs of kids.

“Before they decompensate, let's get to them while they're in school, right before they end up in the ER,” Fragoso told Chief Healthcare Executive®. “So we do a ton of community type of events that I think really differentiates us. Because then you're out there, you're seeing it, you're living it, you're not just waiting for them to get sick.”

About 75% of the children in the pediatric health system come from underserved communities, Fragoso said last year.

“We're trying to help the health of a generation by helping these kids that, you know, they've been underserved their whole lives,” he said.

“I always say, there's one thing to help kids when they come into the hospital, right? I call it a sick care model,” he says. “You're waiting for them to come to you, if something went wrong, you're going to fix it, you're going to send them out. But is that really changing the health of a generation?” (See part of our conversation in this video.)

With its new brand and new partnership, the system aims to help kids today, and more in the years to come. "The Manning Family shares our commitment to improving the health and well-being of future generations," Fragoso said in a statement celebrating the name change.

The new identity will be phased in across the organization over the coming months.

The announcement comes amidst a week of celebrations in New Orleans, which is hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Manning Family Children's operates a 263-bed hospital in New Orleans, along with outpatient facilities across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.