PHILADELPHIA EAGLES owner Jeffrey Lurie has pledged to donate $50MILLION to autism research and treatment.
The record-breaking gift will go to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine.
Both institutions will work on a joint initiative of autism spectrum disorder research, the three parties announced Tuesday.
The venture will be called the the Lurie Autism Institute (LAI).
And it is the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan.
Lurie, 73, and his family are not newcomers to advocating for neurological research and awareness.
The billionaire”s interest in finding a cure for autism is tied to the fact his brother, Peter Lurie, was diagnosed with the disorder when the Eagle’s owner was just six years old.
He said: “My brother is autistic. So for my family and me, we’ve been supporting the autism community for … decades.
“That’s really where it all originated from. My mother has really led the way over all these decades as the primary investor in autism research, and the rest of the family has followed suit.
“What I’ve done is just re-emphasize that over the decades, over the years.”
Lurie helped inspire the NFL’s first sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field, a place where fans with autism can get away from the crowd and noise.
The successful movie producer and businessman has owned the Eagles since 1994, reportedly paying $195million.
Since then, he has won Super Bowl titles, including the 2025 edition against the reigning champs Kansas City Chiefs.
Madeline Bell, CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said: “The LAI will work to “find quicker and better answers for children and adults living with this complex condition.”
It aims to improve understanding of the genetics and other processes underlying autism, study how behaviors on the spectrum grow and evolve across the lifespan.
It will also use AI to analyze data to identify new treatment targets and existing drugs that could be repurposed for autism and run clinical trials.
And fans were stunned by Lurie’s donation, with one writing: “Best owner in sports.”
A second said: “That’s fantastic. Well done Mr Lurie and team. 
.”
A third added: “We’re so lucky to have the greatest owner in sports!”
Lurie’s mother, Nancy, established the Lurie Center for Autism in Massachusetts in 2009.
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