PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is handing off $200,000 to the Philadelphia School District to buy air conditioners for 10 schools.
Hurts announced the gift Friday at Edward Gideon Elementary School in Brewerytown.
"I just want to serve you guys and help in any way I can," he told students at a school assembly.
Hurts said he was inspired after seeing a news report about Philadelphia schools dismissing early because of hot weather.
"That was terrible to me," Hurts told reporters inside Gideon's air-conditioned third-floor computer lab. "You're not only taking away time from the kids but you're taking away an opportunity for them to learn.”
Gideon eighth grader Kamya Freeman said it gets really hot in the classrooms when it nears summertime and they have to leave early because of it.
"Now that there's an air conditioner, there's cool air. It's easy to focus. Easy to concentrate. I love it,” Freeman said.
The gift from the Eagles star will buy 314 window air conditioning units for Clara Barton, Gloria Casarez, Castor Gardens, D. Newlin Fell, Thomas Finletter, Fitler Academics Plus, Benjamin Franklin/Science Leadership Academy, Abram Kenks, Edward Gideon and Roosevelt schools.
The district has been upgrading school electrical systems to handle the new air conditioners — 66 of the units have already been installed. The district expects the remainder to be installed by the end of summer.
Most Philadelphia classrooms are still not air-conditioned, but Superintendent Tony Watlington said this donation puts the district in a better field position for year-round schools.
"This will help us move on the mayor's commitment to implement some pilots for year-round and extended-year education," Watlington said. "Not only will our students have optimal learning conditions, we will also not have to close schools early."
Hurts says he’s bringing the same commitment he brings to the football field to the community.