Donovan Mitchell: "Being able to give $1 million to DonorsChoose, which allows teachers to pay for school supplies, meals, disinfectants, but also paying for Wi-Fi, which to me stood out the most because that was a big thing for students… because they didn’t have the access to have online school."

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There are only so many jobs that are both hard and incredibly important, and teaching is most assuredly one of them. Add in the challenges that come with the COVID-19 factor, and it’s as great a time as any to hand out the roses to the ones doing it the right way for our kids.

So to hear that Mitchell was offering both time and money ($1 million) to do his part on that front was refreshing. Per the press release, the donation goes to a company called DonorsChoose that distributes “the funds to teachers to clear their supply wish lists for classrooms.” As Donovan has discussed plenty in the past, his mother has had a lasting impact on his view of education for quite some time now.

"I think for me, the biggest thing is doing what you love. You know, I think that’s why I play basketball. That’s ultimately what got me to be here. …(It’s about) being able to give back to people who give back as a job — being able to give back to people who give back. I think that’s huge. And being able to give $1 million to DonorsChoose, which allows teachers to pay for school supplies…meals, disinfectants, but then also paying for wi-fi, which to me stood out the most because that was a big thing for students, a lot of students, because they didn’t have the access to have online school, so now they’re missing out during that time — especially during COVID. … I’m not a parent, but I think the consensus I heard from teammates that have kids and friends that I know have had kids and said the biggest thing that they took away from the quarantine was the appreciation for teachers because they’re with their kids all day, you know? And they don’t necessarily know seventh-grade science at the house, so being able to have that appreciation (was big)."

"For me, (it’s) just doing what I love. Obviously, I’ve been blessed enough (that) I could stop playing and be set for life. (But) it’s not about the money for me. It’s really about the cause and what it’s going to, and what the brand stands for. … I’m blessed to be able to be a part of it and to be able to use my platform to bring awareness to what’s needed."