Josh Harris to Give $3.5 Million to PAL of Philadelphia

NBC Sports Philadelphia
By Patrick Mulranen
August 27, 2015

Sixers owner Josh Harris will be donating $3.5 million to the Philadelphia Police Athletic League, it was announced Thursday. This will be the largest gift to the non-profit organization in its 68-year history.

The $3.5 million gift will be spread out over five years and will help fund the development of PAL’s strategic plans which include hiring staff, evaluating PAL programs, investing in PAL facilities and establishing long-term financial and operational sustainability.

The PAL is an independent non-profit corporation where policemen are committed to helping children in the area. The Philadelphia PAL has 18 centers across the region.

Harris, who bought the Sixers back in 2011, held a news conference Thursday at a PAL center in the Harrowgate section to discuss the Harris Family Foundation’s planned pledge to the organization.

“PAL offers excellent programs that help thousands of young Philadelphians develop self-confidence, stay motivated in school, and play a positive role in their communities,” Harris said in a statement. “At a time when many more kids need support, we’re proud to help PAL grow accordingly, with a systematic program to increase total enrollment, put more police officers onto the basketball courts and playing fields with the young people, and strengthen the core organizational operations that will serve PAL for decades to come.”

According to a report, PAL had a revenue of $2.2 million in 2013.

Originally Published on NBC Sports Philadelphia.