Derick Hall One Percent Foundation Celebrates NICU Awareness Month at Memorial
Derick Hall’s journey from a premature baby to an NFL player is one of resilience, strength, and gratitude. Born at just 2 pounds, 9 ounces at Memorial’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Derick’s early life was filled with medical challenges. His mom, Stacy, recalls the uncertainty, fear, and hope that filled those first few months. But through faith and determination, Derick defied the odds, becoming a standout athlete and a source of inspiration to many. Read his story here.
Giving back
Stacy fondly refers to the Gulfport community as their “village,” the place that nurtured and supported them during their most difficult times. Today, Derick is giving back to that same village through his foundation. Inspired by his own experiences in the NICU, the Derick Hall One Percent Foundation is dedicated to supporting premature babies and their families, fighting food insecurities, and providing fitness opportunities in underserved communities.
Most recently, members of his foundation board visited the Memorial NICU, where Derick was once a patient, to deliver lunch, gift cards, and words of encouragement to families and staff. Stacy personally offered comfort and support to parents facing the same struggles she once did, reminding them that hope is never lost. During her tour of the NICU facilities, she shared, “This hospital is life for me,” she said. “They took care of my babies 28 years ago for my daughter and 23 years ago for my son. Memorial hospital to me means life for my family and the memories where I was able to see my kids grow up and see them be productive members of society. So, Memorial hospital is amazing, the staff here is amazing, and I cannot thank them for all that they have done for my family.”
Specialized care for the Coast’s tiniest patients
When Stacy delivered her children at Memorial, the NICU looked completely different than it does today. Memorial’s Level 3 critical NICU is staffed by board-certified neonatologists and offers 11 semi-private rooms with 23 NICU beds. In the event of high-risk or for premature or ill newborns, the advanced services of Memorial’s NICU can be lifesaving.
For Derick, giving back is more than just charity—it’s personal. His foundation embodies the values of resilience, service, and gratitude that have defined his life. “Being a kid who came from humble beginnings, it was important for me to make a difference in my community now that I have the platform to do so,” he says.
Through his foundation, Derick continues to honor his roots and his mother’s unwavering faith and strength. His work is a testament to the power of community and the importance of giving back to the place that has always been home.
Memorial is home to the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Children’s of Mississippi NICU cares for sick infants and newborns in Gulfport and surrounding communities and is staffed by board-certified neonatologists.