Betty Lauricella will be honored for her extraordinary role in improving the health and wellbeing of Louisiana’s children after serving on the hospital’s Board of Trustees for more than 42 years
NEW ORLEANS — Manning Family Children’s proudly announces Mrs. Betty Lauricella as the hospital’s 2026 Louisiana Legacy Award Recipient, an honor that will be presented during the 2nd annual Louisiana Legacy celebration, which is planned for Thursday, October 1, 2026. Mrs. Lauricella was selected for the significant impact she has made on child wellbeing across the state and region, as an active member of the hospital’s Board of Trustees for more than 42 years, becoming an emeritus member earlier this year.
“When we reflect on those who have been steadfast advocates for kids, there is hardly another person who matches the commitment, passion, generosity and leadership of Betty Lauicella,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manning Family Children’s. “Betty first joined the Children’s Board in 1983, and was the first woman to serve as chair in 1992. A trailblazer in her own right, Betty has helped pave the way for many pivotal milestones throughout our history – overcoming financial challenges in the early days to ensure our sustainability, rebuilding in the years that followed Hurricane Katrina, the purchase of our State Street campus which enabled the vision for our most recent campus expansion, and key investments that have helped scale the hospital’s impact over many decades.”
The Louisiana Legacy celebration was established with the Manning family in 2025 to honor the defining moments and leaders who have helped shape our state and region, while raising funds to support the vital mission of Manning Family Children’s. Community support through the 2026 Louisiana Legacy event will help fund a new, 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Manning Family Children’s – a critical expansion that will help Manning Family Children’s continue to deliver the highest level of neonatal care in the state, at a time when more babies than ever before rely on its highly specialized, lifesaving care.
“I have had the honor of working alongside Betty as a mentor and friend for nearly 30 years, both in my previous roles at Manning Family Children’s, and through the formation and growth of LCMC Health,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “Betty has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our children. “Her legacy is one of giving back and driving positive change. We look forward to honoring Betty’s immeasurable impact on October 1.”
The 2nd annual Louisiana Legacy celebration will take place Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Orpheum Theater, featuring gourmet food and cocktails, a fireside chat with members of the Manning family and special guests, along with live entertainment for approximately 500 patrons and supporters. The vibrant occasion will be co-chaired by Courtney and Ted Le Clercq and Tina and Barry Kern, with Olivia and Archie Manning and Ellen and Cooper Manning serving as honorary co-chairs.
“We look forward to building upon the impact that began with our inaugural Louisiana Legacy event in 2025, as we began our new chapter as Manning Family Children’s,” said Cooper Manning. “We invite the community to join us for a celebratory and fun evening that will help fuel the mission of Manning Family Children’s.”
Sponsorships and tickets are now available for the 2026 Louisiana Legacy celebration at www.manningchildrens.org/legacy.
For more than 70 years, Manning Family Children’s has proudly served as Louisiana’s 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-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.
Learn more about Manning Family Children’s new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit >>