The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia (PAL) announced that they received a $3.5 million dollar grant from the Harris Family Charitable Foundation, owned by 76ers owner Josh Harris and his wife Marjorie. It is the largest donation in PAL’s 68-year history. The announcement was made at the Harrowgate PAL Center.

PAL serves over 15,000 boys and girls in the city’s high-crime and low-income neighborhoods. The grant, to be disbursed over 5 years, will allow PAL to serve more youth through educational, athletic, and cultural programs focused on reducing crime, building character, and improving educational outcomes. Harris was excited to get involved in a program that positively impacts so many children. He said in a press release:

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. 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.

Harris also helped fund the development of a five-year strategic plan to improve PAL’s success, which entails hiring more staff, evaluating current programs and their success, investing in PAL facilities and establishing long-term financial and operational stability. Over the next five years the Harris Family Charitable Foundation will remain involved in a multi-year ramp up that will support sustainable growth in the long run. PAL has an annual budget of about $6.3 million comprised of private donations and funding from the City of Philadelphia for the salaries of the police officers who staff PAL centers.