Manning Family Children's 

RYAN SEACREST FOUNDATION TO BRING THE GULF SOUTH’S FIRST ‘SEACREST STUDIOS’ TO WALKER’S IMAGINARIUM AT MANNING FAMILY CHILDREN’S

The 1,200+ square foot broadcast media center aids in the healing process for children and their families by providing special programming throughout their hospital stay.

NEW ORLEANS – Manning Family Children’s has been selected by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) as the recipient of one of its newest Seacrest Studios, a state-of-the-art studio for pediatric patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. Walker’s Imaginarium, a first-of-its kind child enrichment center planned for the main campus of Manning Family Children’s in partnership with non-profit Kids Join The Fight, will be home to the foundation’s first studio in Gulf South – and the only one in Louisiana.

The studio will be located prominently on the ground level and main exhibit floor of Walker’s Imaginarium, which will include two floors of interactive, kid-friendly exhibits, creating a therapeutic space for patients and families to thrive and find joy while spending time together in the hospital. Walker’s Imaginarium will tie directly into the main concourse and inpatient tower at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, as a natural bookend to the campus. The project will open in early 2027.

Seacrest Studios are charitable endeavors of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, founded by radio and television host and producer Ryan Seacrest, along with his family. RSF aims to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay, as well as uplift spirits of the clinical and administrative staff at Children’s Hospital New Orleans.

“We quickly fell in love with the vision of Manning Family Children’s and Kids Join The Fight to redefine the patient and family experience through Walker’s Imaginarium,” said Ryan Seacrest. “New Orleans is one of the best culture and music cities in the country, and I cannot think of a better place to bring joy to patients through our foundation.”

Seacrest Studios will be used to provide a variety of programming opportunities to patients, whether they are physically in the studio or watching through a closed-circuit network from their in-room television screen. Patients will have the opportunity to host their own radio and television shows, watch live musical performances, play games, and even interview celebrity guests who visit the studio. The studio will be encased in glass, allowing patients and visitors to view the daily programming happening inside from the main floor of Walker’s Imaginarium.

“We are humbled and could not be more excited to be partnering with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation to bring a Seacrest Studio to our campus,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital where kids can just be kids, while receiving care. That is exactly what the Ryan Seacrest Foundation helps do, and we cannot wait to deliver countless moments of joy together.”

Manning Family Children’s is the only freestanding comprehensive children’s hospital in Louisiana, and has improved the health and wellbeing of the children of the Gulf South for nearly 70 years. A regional leader in heart care, cancer care, rehabilitation, behavioral health, and more than 40 other pediatric specialties, Manning Family Children’s is proud to be ranked among the world’s best hospitals for pediatrics by Newsweek, for the third year in a row.

RSF has opened 14 other Seacrest Studios across the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Orange County, Orlando, Washington, D.C., Memphis, Miami, Queens and Salt Lake City.

For more information about Walker’s Imaginarium and how to support the project, visit www.chnola.org/imagine.