76ers owner makes historic donation to Police Athletic League

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia sports team owner has made a major donation to help the Police Athletic League.

Josh Harris, the managing owner of the 76ers, has donated $3.5 million dollars over 5 years as a grant through his family's charitable foundation.

It's the largest donation in the charity's 68 year history.

The Police Athletic League, or PAL as its participants call it, is a non-profit that provides athletics to children in the city, pairing police with children.

The organization's mission is 'Cops Helping Kids.' It provides them with a chance to learn and play sports, but it also offers programs to help in their education and character development.

All of it free to the kids.

And Commissioner Ramsey credited PAL today with helping to lower crime among young people in those neighborhoods.

Harris said today that he feels it is his obligation to find a way to give back.

"All of us who have done well in our lives, we have the responsibility to give back and to allow other people to do so. I myself grew up playing sports and it lifted me," he said.

Harris' donation will go toward hiring more staff, investing in PAL facilities, and making sure these kids get the best programs possible.

Jhyada Washington from Logan tells us, "I have been attending PAL since I was 4."

Jhyada is one of the 15,000 kids in the city who has been a part of programs at one of 18 Police Athletic League centers in some of the highest crime and lowest income neighborhoods across the city.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey credits PAL's success with helping to lower crime among young people in those neighborhoods.

Ramsey says, "The biggest part of our job is keeping people out of the criminal justice system and we all have to work toward starving that system. To starve it you have to provide opportunity to young people."

Josh Harris says, "Almost none of these kids are going to be pro athletes. This is all about making them better prepared for life. It starts with being safe."

As for the organization's impact, Jhyada Washington tells us, "They're my roots. That's where I'm grounded at, and without them I wouldn't be where I am today."