Thanking Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and his family for their generous $50 million donation to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to establish the Lurie Autism Institute, an organization centered on accelerating autism research.

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Lurie has generously donated $50 million to establish the Lurie Autism Institute at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine, the largest single donation ever to a U.S. academic medical center focusing on Autism; and

WHEREAS, Since purchasing the Eagles in 1994, Jeffrey Lurie has been an integral member of the City’s civic and philanthropic landscape; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Lurie and his family have a personal connection to Autism through Jeffrey’s brother, Peter, who was diagnosed with Autism at a young age. This connection has inspired the family’s ongoing efforts in support of Autism awareness and research; and

WHEREAS, Lurie’s mother, Nancy Lurie, founded the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation in 1977 and later founded the Lurie Center for Autism in 2009; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, following in his mother’s footsteps, Jeffrey Lurie Founded the Eagles Autism Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising funds for innovative Autism research and care programs; and

WHEREAS, This landmark donation will fund cutting-edge research into Autism’s genetics, behavior, and biology, as well as train and hire qualified individuals to answer important questions about autism spectrum disorder, with a commitment to launching clinical trials; and

WHEREAS, This legislative body commends Jeffrey Lurie and the Lurie family for this historic act of philanthropy, which aims to significantly advance scientific knowledge, improve diagnostic and therapeutic options for individuals with Autism, and inspire other partnerships; and

WHEREAS, The Eagles Autism Foundation, Falcons sensory rooms at Lincoln Financial Field, and the new Lurie Autism Institute exemplify a transformative model of combining high-profile leadership, personal commitment, and scientific innovation to create lasting impact for the Autism community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby thanks Jeffrey Lurie, Chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Eagles, for his monumental donation towards the acceleration of Autism research in the City of Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Jeffrey Lurie and his family as evidence of the sincere admiration of this legislative body.

End