Jalen Hurts donates $200K for air conditioners in Philadelphia Schools
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts doing good work in the community. Hurts recently donated $200,000 for air conditioners in Philadelphia-area schools to make sure children stay cool during the warmer months.
“I think back to my time as a student not being able to imagine some of the things that you guys have to go through,” Hurts said while speaking last week at a Philadelphia-area school, per ABC News. “I just want to serve you guys and help in any way I can.”
Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr., the superintendent of the Philadelphia school district, said Hurts’ donation is set to add 300 air-conditioning units to 10 local schools. “More than half of our schools lack appropriate air-conditioning such that when the temperature climbs higher than 86 to 90 degrees, we too often have to let our kids go home early,” Watlington Sr. said. “And that really impacts student achievement.”
Watlington Sr. added: “It benefits teachers, as well, because when teachers have optimal teaching conditions, they’re more likely to return as teachers.” The installation of air-conditioning units has begun and will be complete by the start of next school year.
Jalen Hurts dealt with challenging 2023 season
Hurts is entering his fifth NFL season and is looking to bounce back after things went south for the Eagles in 2023. After reaching the Super Bowl during the 2022 season, Philadelphia finished last year with an 11-6 record and lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs. After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles lost five of their last six regular season games and ended with a 32-9 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I’m very appreciative of everything we’ve been through and fought through,” Hurts said after the loss, per AtoZ Sports. “Obviously, we took a turn there and things didn’t end the way we wanted. But it’s simply not our turn. It’s not turn. We got a taste of it last year winning the conference championship and having an opportunity to play in our Super Bowl, and it wasn’t our turn then.”
“It’s not our turn,” added Hurts. “We’ve had the opportunities. We’ve had the crumbs. We’ve had everything to our disposal, but it wasn’t our turn. I can accept that. And I think we can accept that knowing that the sun will rise tomorrow. And there’ll be another opportunity to attack it.”