Christina Weiss Lurie
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Christina Weiss Lurie is an Oscar-winning documentary producer, philanthropist and minority owner of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Weiss Lurie’s career spans the worlds of sports, entertainment and philanthropy. Along with her role as a minority owner of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Weiss Lurie is also president of the Eagles Youth Partnership, the team’s charitable foundation,[1] and co-founder of three independent film companies- Vox3 Films, Tango Pictures[2] and Screen Pass Pictures.
In addition to these roles, Weiss Lurie also serves on a number of boards, including the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 2007, Weiss Lurie helped establish the Lurie Family Foundation, focusing on health concerns, particularly in the areas of autism and cancer research.[3] She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Early life and education
Born in Mexico City to Stanley and Lisa Weiss, Weiss Lurie holds dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. After growing up in London, she attended and graduated from Yale University with a double major in theater and history of art. She then continued her study at the acclaimed Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in England, before moving to Paris. Interested in pursuing a career in cinema, Weiss Lurie then headed to Los Angeles where she worked for Aspect Ratio’s Ron Molder, heading his independent film production company that produced I Love You to Death in 1990.[4]
Philadelphia Eagles ownership
In 1994, Weiss Lurie partnered with her then husband Jeffrey Lurie for the purchase of the Eagles from Norman Braman. Weiss Lurie has spearheaded the franchise’s philanthropic and sustainability efforts and also contributed to the design of Lincoln Financial Field and the NovaCare Complex – the Eagles’ corporate headquarters and training facility.[4]
Eagles Youth Partnership and other philanthropy
In 1995, the team’s non-profit charitable wing, the Eagles Youth Partnership (EYP) was founded. EYP focuses on literacy, vision and after-school programs. Each year, EYP reaches 50,000 low-income children in the Greater Philadelphia region through its Eagles Eye Mobile and Eagles Book Mobile that provide eye exams, glasses, and books to underserved communities.[4]
Weiss Lurie helped launch the Tackling Breast Cancer campaign, a partnership between the Philadelphia Eagles and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Breast Care Center. Pink Eagles merchandise proceeds benefit the Center, which was founded in 2006. .[5]
Sustainability
In 2003, the Eagles launched their Go Green Campaign - a ground-breaking initiative to better the environment by creating and sustaining programs that improve the quality of life in the Philadelphia region, green the environment and reduce the team’s impact on the planet. The Eagles use solar power at both of their facilities; take steps to reduce their energy consumption and trash output on game days; and plant trees to offset the team's carbon emissions.[6] Weiss Lurie has worked on this initiative since its inception. EYP’s Tackling Breast Cancer and Go Green initiatives earned the team the “2011 Sport Team of the Year” award from Beyond Sport, a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sports to create positive social change across the world.[7] Weiss Lurie is a member of the NFL's Green Club working group, a committee of club and league staff members who help determine and direct the league's environmental initiative.
Film and television
Weiss Lurie is also a successful film producer and co-founded Vox3 Films in 2004, creating a diversified slate of independent films. She was executive producer on Adam and Rage, along with past productions America Brown, Game 6, Feel, Broken English and Never Forever. Fur, starring Nicole Kidman, was also a Vox3 Film production.[8] Screen Pass Pictures is a documentary film company established by Weiss Lurie and her business partner Jeffrey Lurie with the Lurie Family Foundation. Under the Screen Pass Pictures banner, Weiss Lurie served as executive producer for Sergio in 2009 and Inside Job in 2010, as well as Inocente in 2012 and A Place at the Table in 2013. Inside Job earned an Oscar for Best Documentary (Feature), and in 2013 for Inocente,[9] Weiss Lurie won an Oscar for Best Documentary (Short). We Are The Giant, the latest release on which Weiss Lurie served as executive producer, debuted at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
In 2011, Weiss Lurie co-launched Tango Pictures, a company focused on producing mainstream films. That same year, in 2011, she partnered with Alan Barnette to develop both scripted and unscripted television shows.[2]
Personal life
Weiss Lurie is a contemporary art collector and mother of two children.[4]
Filmography
Awards
In 2005, EYP received the inaugural Steve Patterson award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy.[10]
In 2008, the Go Green Campaign won the Ongoing Commitment Award from the Environmental Media Association.[3]
In 2009, the Eagles received the Sustainability Award from PA Environmental Council.[1]
In 2010, Weiss Lurie was a recipient of Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business Leaders of the Year award.[3]
In 2010, the Eagles received worldwide recognition as one of three finalists in the sports world for Beyond Sport’s “Sport Team of the Year", earning the team the award in 2011.[7]
References
- 1 2 "Philadelphia Eagles: Christina Weiss Lurie"
- 1 2 "Christina Weiss Lurie launches new Hollywood film company"
- 1 2 3 "EAGLES OWNERS JEFFREY AND CHRISTINA LURIE ARE DREXEL’S BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE YEAR"
- 1 2 3 4 "Christina Lurie helped shape the Eagles vision (The Philadelphia Inquirer)"
- ↑ "Tackling Breast Cancer" Archived May 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Go Green Playbook"
- 1 2 "Eagles Named Beyond Sport Team Of The Year"
- ↑ "IMDB: Christina Weiss Lurie"
- ↑ "Lurie And Weiss Lurie Win Second Oscar"
- ↑ "The Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy" Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.