Harris Philanthropies back Palace for Life employment programme with $100,000 donation

On April 5th, Josh Harris, co-owner of Crystal Palace, and Marjorie Harris visited the state-of-the-art Crystal Palace Academy facilities to present a $100,000 donation which will play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of local young people in south London. Accompanied by club Chairman Steve Parish, Palace for Life’s CEO Mike Summers, and Head of Pathways and Learning, Susan Patterson-Smith, the Harris’ were briefed on the significant impact their generous donation will have on the lives of young people who need vital support in taking the next step in their education, training or employment.

Harris Philanthropies was co-founded in 2014 by Josh Harris, Founder of 26North and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, and his wife, Marjorie, Chair of the Sixers Youth Foundation and Chair of the Washington Commanders Foundation. Harris Philanthropies’ work focuses on catalytic giving and purpose-driven investing that maximises impact and creates long-term change in communities where the family has deep connections. Harris Philanthropies partners with organisations to support and initiate opportunities for at-risk youth, health and wellness initiatives and broad-based community growth.

Josh and Marjorie Harris said:

“As the parents of five children, and through our work at Harris Philanthropies and our sports teams, we’ve seen firsthand how sports and educational programming can converge to help shape the future leaders of our communities,” said Josh and Marjorie Harris. Through GAME ON, we’re fortunate to be able to support programming that provides career-oriented resources and experiences for young people who might not otherwise have access. This contribution is about using the transformative power of sports to make a positive impact on the lives of youth and families in South London, and we are so glad to be able to do it.”

GAME ON, which is also co-funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers Association, is our flagship employment programme, and is designed to assist young people aged 16-25 with launching their careers. Through tailored guidance, training, and skills development, the programme has already made a significant impact, assisting numerous young individuals in taking their crucial steps into the working world.

GAME ON also offers specialised ‘Kick Off to…’ courses to obtain industry-specific qualifications and exclusive ‘Industry Insights & Trips’ to engage with professionals and visit leading companies, to provide invaluable career opportunities.

Since September 2023, the GAME ON programme has engaged over 120 young people, offering experiences and direct support to help them prepare for the world of work.

Steve Parish, Crystal Palace F.C. Chairman, said:

“We’re hugely grateful to Josh, Marjorie and Harris Philanthropies for their generous donation. It will make a massive impact on the most disadvantaged members of our community, particularly for those needing support with education, training or employment in an already challenging environment.”

The cheque presentation took place in the Academy dome facility, where Josh and Marjorie got the chance to meet some players from our Down’s Syndrome football team, the DS Eagles. The group are currently participating in a year-long version of the GAME ON programme, participating in a number of industry workshops including cooking, sport and music to help them experience work in a variety of different environments.

Mike Summers, CEO at Palace for Life, said:

“We would like to extend a huge thanks to Josh, Marjorie and Harris Philanthropies for this incredibly generous donation. We can make a significant impact with a donation of this size and we look forward to providing updates on the progress of the programme.”

If you would like to find out more about making a philanthropic gift to support our work, please visit our Investors Club page or email Molly .