Jeffrey Lurie has earned one of ESPN’s top humanitarian honors for work that has stretched well beyond football and into autism research, care, and support for families across the world. The Philadelphia Eagles owner and chairman was named this year’s recipient of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award at the 2026 Sports Humanitarian Awards during ESPYS week. Lurie was joined at the event by Stuart Scott’s daughters, as well as Jason and Kylie Kelce, as he received recognition tied to one of the franchise’s most important off-field missions.
The award honors people who have used innovation, risk-taking, and the power of sports to help disadvantaged communities while reflecting values such as fairness, ethics, respect, and fellowship. For Lurie, the recognition is connected to his leadership with the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Lurie Autism Institute, two initiatives that have helped make Philadelphia one of the sports world’s most visible platforms for autism awareness, research, and care.
The Eagles Autism Challenge began in May 2018, and the Eagles Autism Foundation, founded in 2019, has raised more than $56 million through efforts such as the annual Eagles Autism Challenge. The foundation has helped fund more than 223 research projects and community grants worldwide, according to the team, while participant-raised funds from the organization’s signature charity event are invested into autism research and care programs.
Lurie’s impact expanded significantly in 2025, when the Lurie family donated $50 million to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to establish the Lurie Autism Institute. The joint initiative between the two hospitals was described as the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan.
In the past decade, Lurie’s autism-focused efforts have contributed to more than $106 million in research and care. Under his leadership, the Eagles have made the Eagles Autism Challenge a franchise-wide initiative, with players, coaches, executives, and staff members participating in the annual event.
The award honors people who have used innovation, risk-taking, and the power of sports to help disadvantaged communities while reflecting values such as fairness, ethics, respect, and fellowship. For Lurie, the recognition is connected to his leadership with the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Lurie Autism Institute, two initiatives that have helped make Philadelphia one of the sports world’s most visible platforms for autism awareness, research, and care.
The Eagles Autism Challenge began in May 2018, and the Eagles Autism Foundation, founded in 2019, has raised more than $56 million through efforts such as the annual Eagles Autism Challenge. The foundation has helped fund more than 223 research projects and community grants worldwide, according to the team, while participant-raised funds from the organization’s signature charity event are invested into autism research and care programs.
Lurie’s impact expanded significantly in 2025, when the Lurie family donated $50 million to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine to establish the Lurie Autism Institute. The joint initiative between the two hospitals was described as the largest single donation to U.S. academic medical centers focused on autism research across the lifespan.
In the past decade, Lurie’s autism-focused efforts have contributed to more than $106 million in research and care. Under his leadership, the Eagles have made the Eagles Autism Challenge a franchise-wide initiative, with players, coaches, executives, and staff members participating in the annual event.
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