Zion Williamson announced Friday he is making a large donation to Jefferson Parish Schools.
The New Orleans Pelicans' star forward is helping fund the Jefferson Summer Bridge Program, which Jefferson Parish Schools said will allow 4,800 children to participate in a free summer learning program. Additionally, Williamson is donating $250,000 to help Jefferson Parish Schools students get new uniforms.
Williamson — who this week announced he is going to be a father, a revelation that caused adult film actress Moriah Mills to go on a days-long Twitter tirade about their romantic history — did not address the controversy.
“Words can’t express how I truly feel about being able to have a camp and help kids, because that changed my childhood,” said Williamson, who spoke in front of 80 students at Harry S. Truman Middle School in Marrero. “I don’t know where I’d be today without camp. Thank you to everyone for your help, and I’m very grateful for it.”
The $250,000 donation will go toward uniform vouchers for students who were reassigned new schools for next year after Jefferson Parish School Board approved a plan that includes the closure of six schools and the relocation of two others.
On Tuesday, Williamson and his partner, Ahkeema, shared footage of a gender reveal party they hosted last weekend. The footage, which was posted to Ahkeema’s YouTube channel, indicated that the child, a girl, is expected to be delivered in November.
"My baby, you’re going to see this at some point," Williamson said in the video. "I don’t know what the future holds, but mommy and daddy love you. If you don’t know nothing else in this world, know that mommy and daddy love you."
In response, Mills sent a series of tweets starting Wednesday in which she said she learned Williamson was going to be a father from the footage of the gender reveal party that was posted on YouTube.
“I was with you last week in New Orleans and you couldn’t tell me you had a random thot pregnant after all I’ve done for you @Zionwilliamson,” Mills wrote on Twitter.
Lee Anderson, Williamson's stepfather, suggested that what Mills wrote on Twitter was inaccurate.
“All I will say this morning,” Anderson said. “Believe half of what you see and nothing you hear.”
Zion is announcing a partnership with Jefferson Parish Schools today. Lee Anderson, Zion’s stepfather, says “believe half of what you see and nothing what you hear.” pic.twitter.com/AjpVcM4kcs
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) June 9, 2023
Anderson said he didn’t want to address the online controversy involving Williamson in order to focus on the children.
“We’re not doing interviews,” Anderson said. “We are here to focus on our youth. No questions about nothing else because none of that foolishness bothers us.”
Williamson is a two-time All-Star who has played in 114 games with the Pelicans since they chose him No. 1 overall in 2019. He averaged 26.0 points on 60.8% shooting last season but only appeared in 29 games. He missed the final 45 games of the season with a right hamstring injury.
