Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is making a major investment off the field—one that could help students stay safer and more comfortable in class as temperatures rise.
Hurts and the Jalen Hurts Foundation's $600,000 commitment aims to bring a cooling system to Northeast High School in Philadelphia, one of the city's largest schools.
Here's what to know
At Northeast High School on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, the foundation plans to use what organizers called its "largest donation to date" to support cooling improvements, NBC reported.
Hurts' gift builds on his "Keep It Cool" campaign, which has aided students in the School District of Philadelphia since 2024. Through the initiative, he has provided air conditioners and set aside $5,000 for every touchdown he scores.
Organizers said this first investment in the district is meant to speed work on a "faster, more comprehensive cooling solution for one of the largest schools in the city."
The problem reaches far beyond one building. According to information shared by organizers, more than half of the district's 218 schools lack adequate cooling systems, a deficiency that has contributed to early dismissals and lost class time during heat waves.
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More background
When classrooms become too hot, school schedules can be disrupted, learning time can shrink, and families can be left scrambling to adjust work and child care plans.
Improving conditions in older buildings can be especially difficult. Organizers said many aging schools across the district lack the electrical capacity for upgraded cooling units, so the fix often involves more than adding a few machines.
That strain has been evident at Northeast High itself, which organizers said has "faced severe scheduling disruptions due to extreme weather in inadequate HVAC."
Organizers also said Hurts' ties to Northeast High go beyond this donation. They described an "established, personal connection" built through visits with students, youth sports groups, and community empowerment events alongside fellow athletes.
What's being done?
The immediate step is the $600,000 investment itself, which could help move a long-needed project forward at a school that serves a large student population.
By tying ongoing donations to touchdowns, he has effectively turned athletic success into a funding stream for a local need that affects students across Philadelphia.
"I've been in your guys' shoes, and I know the importance of having support and having the backing to do and achieve whatever dreams that you have," Hurts told students at the school.
Where can I learn more?
Hurts' investment is part of a wider wave of giving aimed at easing environmental pressures and improving everyday life. These stories show how private funding is helping communities, from water support in Utah to land conservation in Michigan and strategic climate donations.
• In Utah, a real difference for the imperiled Great Salt Lake could slow ecological collapse.
• In Michigan, conservancy leaders opened a newly donated nature haven to protect habitat and welcome visitors.
• Climate experts say smart donating can help solve the crisis when funding reaches effective nonprofits.
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