Candace Parker of the Las Vegas Aces looks on from the bench before Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals against the New York Liberty in Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 11, 2023. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- Two-time WNBA MVP and three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker is taking on a new role.
On Wednesday, a little over a week after she announced her retirement from basketball, Parker was named the president of Adidas women's basketball.
The new role for Parker marks the culmination of a 16-year partnership with Adidas, according to a press release.
As the president of Adidas women's basketball, Parker will oversee Adidas women's basketball products lines, build upon the brand's storied women's roster which includes stars like Aliyah Boston, Hailey Van Lith, Kahleah Copper and more, as well as amplify women in basketball.
"Stepping into this new leadership role is a deeply personal step in my journey with Adidas," Parker said in a statement shared in the press release. "From high school to college to playing pro now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women's sports."
"It's not just about the products," she continued. "It's about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation, and access."
Some of Parker's career accomplishments include being the first WNBA player in history to win a championship with three different teams and winning two NCAA Championships in 2007 and 2008 while in college at the University of Tennessee.
Parker is also a two-time Olympic Gold medalist.
On April 28, she announced in an Instagram message that she was retiring from the sport after most recently joining the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
"We are honored to be a part of Candace's historic legacy as she transitions from signature athlete to this new leadership role within adidas Basketball," Eric Wisem, Global GM at Adidas basketball, said in a statement. "As a true innovator with a profound passion for the game, we are confident that she is a perfect fit to evolve the adidas Women's Basketball business and catalyze a new era of growth and credibility for the brand."
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 27, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, has agreed to plead guilty to bank fraud in relation to stealing nearly $17 million from the star player in order to cover gambling debts, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mizuhara, 39, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum of 30 years in prison, and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, which carries up to three years in prison, according to the U.S Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. He is expected to enter a plea in the coming weeks, with an arraignment scheduled for May 14, the DOJ said.
"The extent of this defendant's deception and theft is massive," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. "He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice."
According to the plea agreement, Mizuhara helped Ohtani, who does not speak English, set up a bank account in Phoenix in 2018, during which he interpreted the login information for the player's account. In September 2021, Mizuhara started placing sports bets with an illegal bookmaker to whom he quickly became indebted, according to the plea agreement.
"Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from the account," the DOJ said in a release.
Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's bank account and updated security information so bank employees would contact him, not Ohtani, when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account, according to the plea agreement. He also impersonated Ohtani on 24 occasions in calls to the bank, according to the agreement.
From November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara transferred nearly $17 million from the account to associates of the bookmaker in more than 40 wires without Ohtani's permission, according to the plea agreement.
Mizuhara also admitted in the plea agreement to falsely claiming that his total taxable income for 2022 was $136,865 when, in fact, he failed to report an additional $4.1 million in income.
"The source of the unreported income was from his scheme to defraud the bank," the DOJ said, noting that he owes approximately $1,149,400 in additional taxes for the tax year 2022, plus additional interest and penalties.
Estrada previously stressed that Ohtani is a victim in the case and has cooperated "fully and completely" in the investigation.
The Dodgers announced they had fired the Japanese interpreter on March 20, after the gambling controversy surfaced. The team did not provide a specific reason for Mizuhara's termination.
Mizuhara was charged in the matter last month. Following his initial appearance in federal court on April 12, his attorney, Michael Freedman, said in a statement to ABC News that Mizuhara is "continuing to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility."
"He wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball, and his family," the statement continued. "As noted in court, he is also eager to seek treatment for his gambling."
Ohtani addressed the scandal for the first time on March 25 during a press conference. In a prepared statement, Ohtani said through an interpreter, "I am very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this."
(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Tuesday's sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE LA Angels 5, Pittsburgh 4 Toronto 5, Philadelphia 3 Kansas City 6, Milwaukee 4 Atlanta 5, Boston 0 Baltimore 7, Washington 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland 5, Detroit 4 Oakland 9, Texas 4 Chi White Sox 4, Tampa Bay 1 NY Yankees 9, Houston 4 Minnesota 6, Seattle 3 Texas 12, Oakland 11
NATIONAL LEAGUE NY Mets at St. Louis (Postponed) San Diego 3, Chi Cubs 0 LA Dodgers 3, Miami 1 Final Arizona 4, Cincinnati 3 San Francisco 8, Colorado 6
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS New York 130, Indiana 121 (New York leads series 2-0)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Florida 6, Boston 1 (Series tied 1-1) Vancouver 5, Edmonton 4 (Vancouver leads series 1-0)
(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Wednesday's sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE Detroit 4, St. Louis 1 Milwaukee 7, Tampa Bay 1 Oakland 4, Pittsburgh 0 Atlanta 5, Seattle 2 Philadelphia 2, LA Angels 1 Boston 6, San Francisco 2 Washington 1, Texas 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE Minnesota 10, Chi White Sox 5 Kansas City 6, Toronto 1 NY Yankees 2, Baltimore 0 Cleveland 3, Houston 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE San Diego 6, Cincinnati 2 Miami 4, Colorado 1 Chi Cubs 1, NY Mets 0 LA Dodgers 8, Arizona 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS Boston 118, Miami 84 (Boston wins series 4-1) Dallas 123, LA Clippers 93 (Dallas leads series 3-2)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Dallas 3, Vegas 2 (Dallas leads series 3-2) Edmonton 4, Los Angeles 3 (Edmonton wins series 4-1)
(NEW YORK) -- WNBA star Brittney Griner opened up for the first time about her harrowing monthslong detention in Russia and the “mistake” that got her sentenced to nine years in prison in a special edition of ABC News' 20/20 airing Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
“I could just visualize everything I worked so hard for just crumbling and going away,” Griner told ABC's Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts.
Griner, 33, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a nine-time WNBA All-Star who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17, 2022, at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki after she was accused of having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in the country.
Recounting the “mental lapse” that led her to forget the cannabis oil cartridges in her luggage, Griner said that she had awakened late on the morning she was sent to travel to Russia to play during the WNBA's off-season and she packed while she was “in panic mode.”
“My packing at that moment was just throwing all my stuff in there and zipping it up and saying, ‘OK, I'm ready,’” she told Roberts.
Griner, who reflects on the experience in Coming Home, a memoir set to be released on May 7, recalled the sinking feeling she had when she realized that she had forgotten two cannabis oil cartridges in her luggage after security asked her to go through her bag at the airport.
“I'm just like, ‘Oh, my God.’ Like, ‘How did I-- how did I make this mistake?’” Griner said.
“I could just visualize everything I worked so hard for just crumbling and going away,” she said.
Griner was arrested and, after her trial was delayed for several months, she pleaded guilty to drug charges on July 7, 2022, saying that the vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were in her luggage unintentionally. She testified that she had "no intention" of breaking Russian law and packed the cartridges by accident.
“You know there are those who say, ‘Come on. How did you not know that you had cartridges in your luggage?’” Roberts asked.
“It's just so easy to have a mental lapse,” Griner said.
“Granted, my mental lapse was on a more grand scale. But it doesn't take away from how that can happen,” she added.
The U.S. State Department classified Griner as "wrongfully detained" in May 2022, which allowed additional resources to be applied to her case as the Biden administration worked to secure her release.
Griner reflected on the poor living conditions in prison as she awaited her trial, saying that she didn’t always have toilet paper and that the toothpaste they gave her had expired about 15 years ago.
“That toothpaste was expired,” she said. “We used to put it on the black mold to kill the mold on the walls.”
“The mattress had a huge blood stain on it, and they give you these thin two sheets,” she added. “So you're basically laying on bars.”
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on Aug. 4, 2022, and a judge denied in October 2022 an appeal filed by Griner's attorneys.
After her sentencing, Griner was transferred to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia -- a work camp where Griner’s job was cutting fabric for Russian military uniforms.
“What were the conditions like there?” Roberts asked.
“Really cold,” Griner said. “It’s a work camp. You go there to work … there's no rest.”
Griner said that the frigid temperatures were impacting her health and led her to chop off her long dreadlocks.
“What was that like losing that part of you, too?” Roberts asked Griner.
“Honestly, it just had to happen. We had spiders above my bed -- making nests,” she said.
“My dreads started to freeze,” she added. “They would just stay wet and cold and I was getting sick. You've gotta do what you've gotta do to survive.”
During her detention, top athletes and Griner’s family, including her wife Cherelle Griner, were outspoken advocates for her release and continuously called on the Biden White House to intervene and bring her home.
Amid mounting pressure on the White House to secure her freedom, Griner was released on Dec. 8, 2022, after the U.S. agreed to swap her for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“You said that you felt that you let down yourself, your family, your teams … how did you work through that?” Roberts asked.
“I don't think I've really gotten through all the way,” Griner said. “At the end of the day, it's my fault. And I let everybody down.”
Griner reflected on the moment she learned that she was going to be released, saying, “I was so thrilled,” but she added that she was disappointed that Paul Whelan -- another American wrongfully detained in Russia -- was left behind.
“I was like … are you seriously not gonna let this man come home right now?” Griner said of Whelan, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison.
Since her release, Griner has become an outspoken advocate for Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Dec. 16, 2022, where she thanked those who advocated for her release, Griner vowed "to do whatever I can to help” bring home other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home, too,” Griner wrote. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Tuesday's sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE St. Louis 2, Detroit 1 Detroit 11, St. Louis 6 Boston 4, San Francisco 0 Texas 7, Washington 1 Milwaukee 8, Tampa Bay 2 Seattle 3, Atlanta 2 Oakland 5, Pittsburgh 2 Philadelphia 7, LA Angels 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore 4, NY Yankees 2 Kansas City 4, Toronto 1 Minnesota 6, Chi White Sox 5 Houston 10, Cleveland 9
NATIONAL LEAGUE Arizona 4, LA Dodgers 3 (10) Miami 7, Colorado 6 NY Mets 4, Chi Cubs 2 San Diego 6, Cincinnati 4
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS Philadelphia 112, New York 106 (OT) (New York leads series 3-2) Cleveland 104, Orlando 103 (Cleveland leads series 3-2) Milwaukee 115, Indiana 92 (Indiana leads series 3-2)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Toronto 2, Boston 1 (OT) (Boston leads series 3-2) Carolina 6, NY Islanders 3 (Carolina wins series 4-1) Colorado 6, Winnipeg 3 (Colorado wins series 4-1) Nashville 2, Vancouver 1 (Vancouver leads series 3-2)
(NEW YORK) -- WNBA star Brittney Griner reflected on the moment she learned the U.S. secured her freedom from Russian detention and voiced her support for bringing home other Americans wrongfully detained abroad in a special edition of ABC News' 20/20 that is set to air Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. ABC's Good Morning America will air a first look earlier in the day.
“I saw that paper and I was so thrilled,” Griner told GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts as she reflected on a note she received, which stated she was going to be released from Russian detention after nearly 10 months.
“It said: ‘be ready to leave,’” Griner said, as she recalled reading the note.
Griner, 33, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a nine-time WNBA All-Star who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17, 2022, at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki after she was accused of having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in the country. Griner was returning to Russia to play during the WNBA's off-season.
She was detained one week before Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. The war stoked Russian tensions with the U.S. and some U.S. officials, including lawmakers in Griner’s native Houston, expressed concern that Americans jailed in Russia could be used as leverage in the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. State Department classified Griner’s case as "wrongfully detained" in May 2022 and the Biden administration worked for months to secure her freedom.
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges on July 7, 2022, saying that the vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were in her luggage unintentionally. She testified that she had "no intention" of breaking Russian law and packed the cartridges by accident.
Amid mounting pressure on the U.S. to secure her freedom, the WNBA star was released on Dec. 8, 2022, after U.S. officials agreed to swap Griner for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, whose capture in Thailand in 2008 was the end of a nearly decade-long hunt by the U.S. to stop him.
“Being traded for a person known as ‘the merchant of death’; there were some Americans who thought that wasn't a fair trade,” Roberts told Griner. “That this was a heinous criminal and to be traded when it should have been, perhaps, somebody else. What do you say to those who felt it wasn't a balanced trade?”
”If it was left up to me in that trade, I would have went and got Paul and brought him home,” Griner said, referencing the case of Paul Whelan -- a former U.S. Marine charged with espionage in Russia, where he has been detained since December 2018 and is serving a 16-year prison sentence.
“But any time that we can bring home an American, that is a win for Americans. No one should be left behind,” Griner added.
Roberts asked Griner about an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, Coming Home, which is set to be released on May 7, where Griner writes that she was hoping she would be joined on the plane back to the U.S. by someone else.
“You wrote that you were hoping to see someone else on that plane,” Roberts said. “You were hoping to see Paul Whelan.”
Griner nodded, saying, “When I walked on and I didn't see him, I was like, ‘OK, maybe I'm early. Maybe he's next. Maybe they are going to bring him next,’” she said of Whelan.
“And when they closed the door, I was like … are you seriously not gonna let this man come home right now?” Griner added, recounting her disappointment.
Since her release, Griner has become an outspoken advocate for Americans wrongfully detained abroad, including Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia in March 2023 and charged with espionage. The U.S. government designated both Whelan and Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained" -- a classification that allows additional resources to be applied to their cases as the U.S. works to secure their release.
Griner vowed in a heartfelt Instagram post on Dec. 16, 2022, where she thanked those who advocated for her release, "to do whatever I can to help” bring home other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home, too,” Griner wrote. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Monday's sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE St. Louis at Detroit (Postponed) Tampa Bay 1, Milwaukee 0 Oakland 5, Pittsburgh 1 Seattle 2, Atlanta 1 LA Angels 6, Philadelphia 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore 2, NY Yankees 0 Toronto 6, Kansas City 5 Minnesota 3, Chi White Sox 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE Washington 7, Miami 2 Chi Cubs 3, NY Mets 1 Cincinnati 5, San Diego 2 LA Dodgers 8, Arizona 4
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS Boston 102, Miami 88 (Boston leads series 3-1) Oklahoma City 97, New Orleans 89 (Oklahoma City wins series 4-0) Denver 108, LA Lakers 106 (Denver wins series 4-0)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Florida 6, Tampa Bay 1 (Florida wins series 4-1) Dallas 4, Vegas 2 (Series tied 2-2)
(NEW YORK) -- WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian detention in a prisoner swap in December 2022, opened up for the first time about her harrowing experience in a Russian prison in an exclusive interview that will air May 1 on a special edition of ABC News' 20/20. ABC's Good Morning America will have a first look earlier that day.
Griner, 33, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a nine-time WNBA All-Star who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, reflected on the “mental lapse” that led to her months-long detention in Russia when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil -- an illegal substance in the country -- were found in her luggage.
“I could just visualize everything I worked so hard for just crumbling and going away,” Griner told ABC's Robin Roberts. “And then to be somewhere where there's no understanding.”
Griner was returning to Russia to play during the WNBA's off-season when she was detained on Feb. 17, 2022, at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki after the cartridges were found.
“You know there are those who say, ‘Come on. How did you not know that you had cartridges in your in your luggage?’” Roberts asked.
“Have you ever forgot your keys in your car? Left your car running? Have you ever-- you know, where's my glasses? They're on top of your head. Where's my phone? Oh, it's in my pocket. It's just so easy to have a mental lapse,” Griner said.
“Granted, my mental lapse was on a more grand scale. But it doesn't take away from how that can happen,” she added.
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges on July 7, 2022, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage unintentionally. She testified that she had "no intention" of breaking Russian law and packed the cartridges by accident.
“This was a mistake. It was an accident, which I understand accidents have repercussions,” Griner told Roberts. “And I'm American in Russia where relations aren't the best. You know?”
Russia's invasion of Ukraine began one week after Griner was detained on Feb. 17, 2022 -- a war that intensified Russian tensions with the U.S. Some American officials also expressed concern that Americans jailed in Russia could be used as leverage in the ongoing conflict.
The Houston native said that when she realized that the cartridges were in her bag, she thought of her family.
“I'm thinking about my wife. I'm thinking about my dad. You know, what my mom's gonna think, what my family's gonna think, public opinion is gonna think. You know, I can just see the headlines now,” she said.
Griner’s family, including her wife Cherelle Griner, were outspoken advocates for her release and continuously called on the Biden White House to intervene and bring her home.
The U.S. State Department classified Griner’s case as "wrongfully detained" in May 2022 and the Biden administration worked for months to secure her freedom. During Griner’s detention, top athletes in the WNBA and NBA brought attention to her case on and off the court, putting pressure on the Biden White House to secure her release.
She was sentenced to nine years in prison on Aug. 4, 2022, but amid mounting pressure on the White House to strike a deal and bring her home, the U.S. agreed to swap Griner for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and she was released on Dec. 8, 2022 after nearly 10 months in prison.
Griner announced exclusively to GMA on Feb. 6 that she is set to release a new memoir on May 7 titled, Coming Home -- a book that will detail her harrowing incarceration in Russia and subsequent release.
"Coming Home begins in a land where my roots developed and is the diary of my heartaches and regrets," Griner said in a statement. "But, ultimately, the book is also a story of how my family, my faith, and the support of millions who rallied for my rescue helped me endure a nightmare.”
Candace Parker #3 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in the second quarter of a game against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- Two-time WNBA MVP and three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker announced her retirement Sunday.
"I'm retiring," Parker wrote in a lengthy Instagram message detailing her career and plans for her future.
Parker’s message covered her mindset behind her decision to retire from basketball after most recently joining the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
"I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it. The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time," she wrote. "My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it."
Parker’s many career accomplishments include being the first WNBA player in history to win a championship with three different teams and winning two NCAA Championships in 2007 and 2008 while in college at University of Tennessee.
Parker is also a two-time Olympic Gold medalist.
She described the final game she played in 2023 in her farewell message.
"I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love. What now was to be my last game, I walked off the court with my daughter. I ended the journey just as I started it, with her," Parker wrote.
The Las Vegas Aces also posted a congratulatory message for Parker.
"We can’t wait to see what the next chapter in her life has to offer. Thanks for the memories, Candace," read a portion of the message from the team.
In addition to being a star basketball player, Parker spoke out often on her life balancing motherhood with professional sports. In an Instagram post last year, Parker detailed her commitment to motherhood: "Being a mom is THE most important aspect of who I identify as. No matter how many hats I may wear, being a mom always IS NUMBER 1!"
In her retirement post, Parker highlighted her insistence on staying genuine to who she is throughout her career, and expressed gratitude for those who helped her along the way.
"I fell in love with a little orange ball at 13 years old and BECAUSE of it my world goes ‘round. The highs are unmatched & the lows taught me lessons. On & off the court I’m proud I’ve always been true & stayed true to ME, even when it wasn’t popular," she wrote. "I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped. I’m grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers & fans who made this journey so special."
Parker said that now that her basketball career is over, she is planning to pursue opportunities in business, including private equity, team ownership, broadcasting, production and more with "the same intensity & focus I did basketball."
She concluded with a message to current WNBA players: "Today’s players: ENJOY IT. No matter how you prepare for it, you won’t be ready for the gap it leaves in your soul. Forgive me as I mourn a bit, but I’ll be back loving the game differently in a while."
Parker included farewell lyrics from the song "Dear Summer" by Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek in her sign off.
Jalen Hurts attends the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(PHILADELPHIA) -- Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts is giving back to the community in a big way.
Hurts has donated $200,000 for air conditioners in Philadelphia-area schools to ensure students can stay comfortable during warmer months.
The superintendent of the Philadelphia school district, Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr., told ABC News' Good Morning America that the donation is set to add 300 air-conditioning units to 10 local schools. The donation will ultimately impact more than 5,000 students in the district, Watlington Sr. said.
"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. "I just want to serve you guys and help in any way I can."
"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. said the increase in air conditioners will benefit more than just students.
"It benefits teachers, as well, because when teachers have optimal teaching conditions, they're more likely to return as teachers," he said.
Hurts' donation highlights a larger, nationwide need for updated cooling systems in public schools.
According to the Government Accountability Office, as of 2020, "41% of districts need to update or replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems," totaling about 36,000 schools in need of updates.
The Philadelphia superintendent said installation of the air-conditioning units has begun, and the project will be complete by the start of the next school year.
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