FieldAR2023OnlineAll11.13 - Magazine - Page 16
ALUMNI
Making
a
Dif f erence
Connecting Communities through Sports
Josh Harris ’82
Life is full for the Harris family with five kids, three dogs, two cats, a goldfish,
and four professional sports teams. When asked what accomplishment he is
most proud of, Josh Harris ’82 is quick to respond, “My family.” Married to his
wife Marjorie for 28 years, Josh relishes in how their children, ages 13-25, are
“good humans” who are finding their paths and care about the world around
them.
When Josh came to Field in 1979 as a 10th grader, the School was much
smaller and housed in two buildings on Wyoming Avenue. His parents felt he needed a new direction and a more focused
academic environment to reach his full potential. Even though Field didn’t offer one of Josh’s favorite sports, wrestling,
“the School itself had something more to offer.” “This small school had students with diverse thoughts and interests, and
provided a sense of nurturing and true academic challenge. It had a mosaic feel, and teachers truly cared.” “Elizabeth
Ely saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself.”
It’s been more than four decades since Josh was a student at Field. While much has
changed in those 40 years, Josh still holds fond memories of his teachers and their
impact on his growth and the opportunities he was provided at Field. He stays in touch
with many Field alums to this day. A highlight of his Field experience was the opportunity
to travel in the United States and internationally. He also appreciated that students were
encouraged to try new endeavors in both the arts and sports. Josh took up soccer—where
he learned more about the camaraderie and community built on a team.
“The academics were important, but so was everything else. Field teachers could harness the
individual creativity of each student and allow it to coexist in a learning atmosphere where kids
were being prepared for life.”
~Josh Harris ‘82
Josh earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s of Arts/Science in Economics
from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He began his career as a financial analyst, and in
1990 co-founded Apollo Global Management, where he spent over thirty years building the firm into a leading global
alternatives asset manager. At Apollo, he was responsible for some of the firm’s most successful private equity investments, including the LyondellBasel transaction. Building on his passion for sports and the positive impact and lessons he
learned from wrestling in college, he dove into sports management. After acquiring the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers in 2011,
he became the Founder and Managing General Partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). In connection
with the HBSE portfolio, he is the Managing Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, a Co-Managing Partner of the New Jersey
Devils, and a General Partner of the Crystal Palace Football Club in the Premier League. In 2022, Josh founded 26North,
a next-generation, values-driven alternatives platform with businesses across private equity, private credit, and insurance
solutions, with current assets under management in excess of $15bn. Soon after, Josh tapped an opportunity near to his
heart and “too good to pass up” to expand his sports portfolio. In July 2023, Josh became the principal shareholder and
Managing Partner of his hometown team, the Washington Commanders.
Josh believes success is measured by “leaving the world better than you found it.” He also believes that sports ownership
is about the people and the cities those teams represent—building community and positivity. Giving back to and being
a part of these communities gives Josh and Marjorie great joy. The family founded Harris Philanthropies in 2014, which
uses a blend of philanthropic giving and impact investment to improve outcomes for underserved groups in communities
where they have a deep connection. Across their platform, Josh and Marjorie are focused on “partnering with organizations that enable opportunities for at-risk youth, health and wellness initiatives, and broad-based community growth.”
(https://harrisphilanthropies.org/)