The dorm room was silent and dim, shades pulled tight, door sealed shut.

In the center of it sat Jacki Gemelos, alone with her thoughts.

It was April 12, 2012 — WNBA Draft Day. Six years at USC and a storied run at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton had built toward this single moment.

She couldn’t, however, bear an audience. The fear of her name not being called felt heavier than she could share. If the silence from the draft stretched too long, she believed it might break her for good.

So, she hid from it.

The television wasn’t on the draft but on anything else she could find, her thumb moving restlessly as she flipped channel after channel, desperate to drown out the creeping sense of hopelessness and the thought that this might be the end.

This story is part of the WHYY News Climate Desk, bringing you news and solutions for our changing region.

From the Poconos to the Jersey Shore to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, what do you want to know about climate change? What would you like us to cover? Get in touch.

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There’s a shortage of foster parents across the U.S., leaving hundreds of thousands of kids without permanent homes. Many kids age out of the foster system, and don’t have the necessary resources to find a home on their own.

Child placing agencies in New Jersey and Delaware, where the number of licensed foster homes are on the decline, are urging residents to help a child or teen in need of a home. WHYY News organized events in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Wilmington this week to provide resources for potential foster parents as part of “Caring for Kids,” a civic news project covering foster care and adoption.

Close to 3,000 kids were in New Jersey’s foster care system as of 2023. Brandi Harding, of the state’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, said that fewer people are fostering children in the state, partly because there are more resources available to keep kids with their families.

Though the state’s priority is helping children remain with their biological families, more foster parents are needed when that’s not an option. Harding said residents don’t need to be “superheroes” to apply to become a foster parent.

“The secret is resource parents are just everyday people, just like you and me,” she said. “The only difference is they took that first step and then the next step until they were able to open their hearts and their homes to a child in need.”

There’s also a shortage of foster parents in Delaware, where about 500 kids are involved in the foster care system each year. Joseph Balinsky, of the Division of Family Services, said many people have misconceptions about the money and skills needed to be a foster parent.

“One of the most important things is that you can do it,” he said. “There’s so many people that doubt themselves, but every child deserves some love, respect and a decent place to lay their head at night. And if a parent can provide that, then we’re willing to work with you.”

On a recent Tuesday night at an Episcopal church in Canton, the final words of The Serenity Prayer hung in the air as the weekly Gamblers Anonymous meeting broke up.

Michael, who runs the meeting, lingered behind. He said the recovery group has been growing — and getting younger.

“We’ve had 17 new members, I think, in the last five months,” he said. “And I’d say at least two-thirds of them are in their 20s or 30s.”

They had come for help, Michael said, because of online sports betting.

Massachusetts legalized online sports betting in 2023, joining a wave of states chasing new tax revenue. Residents could now bet on almost any game, at any hour, from their phones.

“Take one of the most addictive behaviors in mankind and then combine it with one of the most addicting devices of all time,” Michael said. “It’s obviously going to be a disaster.”

(WBUR agreed not to use the full names of people in recovery for this story due to their concerns about the stigma of addiction.)

The rise in new attendees — or “kids,” as some of the older members of the 12-step program call them — can feel like a double-edged sword.

“You’re like, ‘Awesome, these guys are tackling their problems early in life,’ ” Michael said. “But the flip side is, for every kid we’re seeing, there’s probably 20 to 100 that aren’t coming in.”

‘Trapped in my phone’

WBUR spoke with addiction specialists across Massachusetts and interviewed young people in recovery, including several from a Gamblers Anonymous group in Canton.

One of those men is 26-year-old Jason, who has been in recovery for about six months.

He said he started betting on sports in college with bookies on campus.

“I always had a love and a passion for sports,” he said. “At first it was, it was something that was fun.”

That changed nearly three years ago, after Massachusetts legalized sports betting for people 21 and older. Suddenly, he could bet on nearly anything — including games overseas. At the height of his addiction, Jason estimated, he was placing up to 50 wagers a day.

“I was just trapped in my phone, watching the gambling lines or watching this European basketball game,” he recalled.

And the advertisements on TV and social media from the big national brands — DraftKings, which is headquartered in Boston, and its rival FanDuel — drew him in more.

“Their whole goal is to flood you with it so that you feel kind of suffocated and you’re constantly thinking about it,” he said.

Beyond the financial losses, gambling addiction caused him to lose the trust of people close to him, like his parents.

“It destroys relationships because then you’re lying to people about what you need money for,” he said. “It’s a hard thing.”

Since getting help, Jason said he has repaired those relationships.

He still watches games on TV — but the deluge of sports betting ads bother him.

“Why are we not educated on the dangers that gambling presents?” he asked.

The advertising blitz

After the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for states to legalize sports betting in 2018, companies like DraftKings and FanDuel poured hundreds of millions of dollars into marketing.

They offered sign up bonuses and hired celebrities like comedian Kevin Hart and big-name athletes like former Patriots star Rob Gronkowski for flashy commercials.

“There was just this blitz of advertisements that particularly appealed to younger people,” said Lia Nower, who directs the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.

She said the current moment reminds her of another era.

“Gambling is where cigarettes were in the ’40s, when we had the Marlboro Man and every actress with a cigarette on one of those extenders,” Nower said. “Right now it’s glamorized. People are not understanding that this is an addiction like any other.”

But for the companies — and for Massachusetts — the marketing paid off.

In October, the state set a new monthly record for sports wagering. People in Massachusetts bet $892 million on sports, according to the state’s gaming commission, a 20% jump compared to the same month last year. Nearly all of it was wagered online.

Massachusetts grabs a cut of the action.

Online sports betting revenue is taxed at 20%. Since legalization, the state has collected $350 million from the seven companies licensed to operate.

A surge in calls for help

Unlike other addictions, the number of people who engage in problem gambling is not tracked by the federal government’s public health agencies. Massachusetts doesn’t keep a count either.

But there are signs that as sports betting has exploded in Massachusetts, so have gambling problems among young adults.

The number of Massachusetts residents in their 20s and 30s who contacted the state’s gambling hotline and were referred to treatment more than doubled after legal sports betting went live three years ago, according to Department of Public Health data obtained through a public records request.

The hotline, which is listed at the end of commercials and on sports betting apps, connects people to counselors and treatment programs.

“Any evidence that shows that we have an increase in addiction is concerning for the commission,” said Eileen O’Brien, a member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which regulates sports betting.

The hotline data includes all types of gambling, not just sports betting. But addiction treatment clinicians who spoke to WBUR said online sports betting was driving nearly all the cases involving young adults.

Kyle Faust, a clinical psychologist who directs Massachusetts General Hospital’s Digital Addiction and Gambling Treatment Program, said he’s seen a rise in young patients struggling with gambling.

“It can be extremely severe,” Faust said. “Somebody’s going to be more susceptible to depression, different types of anxiety disorders. And if somebody is significantly in debt, they are gonna feel trapped and helpless and feel like there’s no way out.”

Before betting apps, he said, gambling required more effort: a drive to a casino or a trip to Las Vegas.

“The easier you make it to place bets,” Faust said, “the more people are going to be struggling with this.”

‘I just gambled our entire savings away’

Adam, 33, said he tried to limit his betting at first. He was living in Connecticut in 2021 when the state legalized sports betting. He later moved to Massachusetts.

“I had sort of convinced myself that I could do it responsibly,” he said. “So that meant a $10 bet here or there.”

But, he said, “what happens with this addiction, or any others, is that’s sort of not enough.”

With the DraftKings and FanDuel apps on his phone, Adam could bet on multiple games at once. Over time, his wagers got more frequent and riskier as he tried to win the money back.

When he was out with his girlfriend, he’d repeatedly excuse himself — sometimes to a restroom — to go use his phone.

“What I was doing was checking scores and putting in more bets, things of that sort,” said Adam. “I would be up at all hours of the night — betting on this sport, that sport, sports in other countries that I knew nothing about.”

One night in February 2024, as the gambling losses piled up, he decided to put everything he had left on a single Bruins game.

“I walked into our bedroom where she was sleeping and I woke her up,” he said.

Boston had lost.

“I said, ‘I have something to tell you — I just gambled our entire savings away.’ “

Adam told WBUR that it “was the worst night of my life, having to reveal all of that that I’d been hiding for so long.” With the support of his then-girlfriend, now wife, Adam entered treatment and now attends Gamblers Anonymous meetings every week.

“But looking back on it, that was one of the biggest turning points of my life,” he said.

Adam said the shame surrounding gambling addiction was part of the problem.

“If I knew that I would have had such a supportive wife and family, I would’ve asked for help earlier,” Adam said.

Setting limits

Sports betting companies offer tools intended to protect people from developing gambling problems. Their apps let users set limits on deposits. Customers also can sign up for “cooling-off” periods and self-exclusion programs to ban themselves from wagering.

DraftKings offered an interview with Lori Kalani, its chief responsible gaming officer. Asked how the company viewed a rise in gambling disorders among young people, she emphasized the company’s efforts at promoting its “responsible gaming” tools.

“The vast majority of people who bet on sports do it responsibly as a form of entertainment,” Kalani said. “Although we do appreciate and recognize that it poses a problem for some people. Placing a bet is fine, but everybody should do so within a limit they set for themselves.”

She added that DraftKings has the ability to flag customers when it notices unusual activity, like betting for hours in the middle of the night.

“They will get a message alerting them and saying, ‘Hey, you’ve been on the app for several hours. Would you like to set some limits around the time that you can spend?’ ” Kalani said.

Kalani said every sports betting commercial lists a hotline as required by state law.

FanDuel said in a statement they “recognize that there are customers who may be at-risk of gambling harm and we work to quickly connect those customers to resources,” including a free mental health assessment. The company said it views increased use of resources like gambling hotlines as a sign of more awareness for available support.

Public health experts said tools like betting limits and self-exclusion programs can help some customers, but are not enough — particularly for younger people whose brains are still developing and learning to manage risk and money.

Nower of Rutgers University said her research on sports betting in New Jersey found that a very small proportion of bettors in their early 20s use those safety features.

“What we know from all of our years of research is: the earlier you’re introduced to gambling, the more frequently you gamble, the more activities you gamble on, the higher your risk,” Nower said.

And in Massachusetts, the problem isn’t limited to young adults. There’s evidence that sports betting is reaching kids who aren’t old enough to legally gamble.

At a State House hearing on gambling legislation last month, Andrea Freeman of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, presented startling findings from a youth behavior survey in Springfield.

“In 2024, almost 30% of eighth graders surveyed reported that they’d participated in sports gambling in the past year,” she told lawmakers.

“Take one of the most addictive behaviors in mankind and then combine it with one of the most addicting devices of all time. It’s obviously going to be a disaster.”

Michael

The survey’s definition was broad, including fantasy sports and bets with friends with and without money. But Freeman called it a “notable” increase from 2019, before sports betting was launched in the state.

Some lawmakers said they regretted what online sports betting had unleashed on residents.

“When I voted to legalize sports betting, I never thought it would become what it is,” said state Sen. John Keenan at the November hearing.

Keenan, a Quincy Democrat who previously supported sports betting, has introduced legislation that would tighten restrictions over sports betting and how it’s marketed — including a proposed ban on sports betting ads during televised games. The bill could come up for a vote next year.

At the hearing, he was remorseful.

“I want to apologize to those who find themselves in the dark spaces of betting addiction and to those working through recovery.”

Our employees bring passion and purpose to their work to support our mission of improving the lives of people every day. Their commitment extends to their communities and neighbors in need, as well. This holiday season, we’re proud to celebrate the ways our employees have supported their communities through hands-on volunteering and charitable giving.

Volunteers of the year

Volunteerism is woven throughout our culture, and, in fiscal year 2025, employees collectively logged more than 63,000  hours of volunteer service.

“The stories we hear from employees about why and how they serve and who they are helping is truly inspiring,” said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. “On behalf of Cardinal Health and the Cardinal Health Foundation, thank you to all our volunteers. We are grateful for your commitment to serving the communities where we live and work.”

The Foundation recognizes several top volunteers, including (pictured above from left to right) Dusty Dumas, Senior Clinical Consultant, GMPD, Stonewall, Louisiana; Craig Vollmar, Senior Infrastructure Engineer, Cincinnati, Ohio; Diego Armendariz, Director of Strategic Sourcing, Innovative Delivery Solutions, Katy, Texas; Cassandra Sorrell, Quality Assurance Supervisor, Nuclear Manufacturing Services, Parker, Colorado; and Shannon McIntyre, Maintenance Technician, Global Medical Products & Distribution (GMPD), Jacksonville, Texas.

Here, Diego Armendariz shares some highlights of his volunteering experience.

“I began volunteering in my community as a teenager; 30 years later, I’m still at it, supporting a variety of nonprofits in the Houston area.”

Armendariz’s volunteer activities range from coaching youth sports and fostering character development with teenagers to supporting critical disaster recovery efforts. “Through my church and another local nonprofit, I help provide donated supplies and coordinate other volunteers to support disaster relief,” he said. “One particularly meaningful experience I had involved a disaster recovery mission where a team of others and I delivered critical supplies to a flood-isolated hospital (and Cardinal Health customer) that was inaccessible to our product delivery vehicles during a natural disaster.”

Armendariz stated, “I didn’t realize the full extent of my volunteerism until I began to track all the hours. But these consistent service activities can really add up and make a meaningful difference.”

Every volunteer can make a significant impact, and when we consider the collective impact of our employees’ 63,000 volunteer hours, the effect is considerable. The monetary value is nearly $2.2 million, according to Independent Sector, which values every volunteer hour at $34.79.

Team volunteerism  

In addition to our individual volunteers, the Foundation also recognizes the teams at five Cardinal Health locations for their outstanding group volunteering efforts in fiscal year 2025:

• Rayong, Thailand
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Singapore, Singapore
• Tokyo, Japan
• Mansfield, Massachusetts

Above: Our employees in our Kansas City, Missouri, distribution center build water filters to donate to communities with little or no access to clean water.

Over the past year, teams volunteered together in a variety of activities, such as building water filters for communities with little or no access to clean water, cleaning up local beaches, participating in the meal program at Ronald McDonald House, stuffing backpacks with STEM school supplies for children in need, and so much more.

GivingTuesday: A successful internal campaign

Our employees’ generosity also extends to financial support for numerous nonprofit organizations, helping to make the communities where we live and work stronger. For this week’s GivingTuesday, we honored our employees’ spirit of giving by doubling  their donations to charitable organizations and tripling their donations to the Cardinal Health Employee Assistance Fund, designed to aid qualified employees in need of immediate financial assistance following an unforeseen disaster or personal hardship.

Together, our employees’ and Foundation’s single-day impact to nonprofit organizations and the Employee Assistance Fund amounted to more than $410,000.

“Our culture of giving is woven into everything we do,” said Cannon. “Whether it’s donating to a local nonprofit, supporting their colleagues after an unexpected crisis, or championing causes they care deeply about through volunteer service, our employees genuinely embody the values that guide us at Cardinal Health.”

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced five local beneficiary organizations for its Subaru: Gear for Good initiative, which is dedicated to expanding access to and growing the game of soccer. Coinciding with the draw day announcement ahead of the soccer excitement coming to Philadelphia in 2026, the initiative will provide new and gently used equipment to youth in the local Philadelphia and Camden communities, underscoring Subaru and its retailers’ longstanding commitment to community and youth empowerment.

The selected organizations are:

• Capitolo Youth Soccer Club (CYSC) – CYSC uses soccer as a vehicle to instill universal values of fitness, fun, sportsmanship, respect, community, access, and equality. CYSC has a unique approach and philosophy to teaching soccer, nurturing players’ passion by providing an atmosphere in which they are free to experiment, create, and fail, without fear of judgment, resulting in truly fine players and ambassadors of the Beautiful Game.
• Dr. Henry H. Davis School – The Dr. Henry H. Davis School in East Camden is named after a Camden physician, school board member, Camden’s first medical inspector, and first chief medical inspector. His work in the areas of school health and nutrition saved countless children’s lives in Camden City. Currently, the school houses Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade for approximately 475 students of various learning modalities.
• Project Primacy – Project Primacy Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on youth soccer, particularly for Black and Brown children in inner-city Philadelphia. They aim to provide access to sports, mentorship, and other opportunities to support their development. The foundation has been involved in various initiatives, including free soccer clinics, and fundraising events like their “Dribble & Carry” Broad Street RUNdraiser. 
• Safe-Hub Philly – Safe-Hub provides a physically and emotionally safe space for young people to access opportunities and support through soccer-based out-of-school-time programs that focus on personal development, health, education, and employment. Their goal is to bring high-quality sports programming and supportive services to families, providing a one-stop-shop for families to receive support through the stigma-free circumstances of coming to soccer practice.
• Youth Development United provides children from under-served communities with extracurricular opportunities, inspiring them to excel. Specifically, YDU provides children and their families with memorable after-school and weekend opportunities that increase their access to mentorship, wellness, and personal development through various sports and recreational opportunities.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America: “At Subaru, we believe in showing up for our communities in ways that truly matter. These organizations are already doing powerful work to support kids through the game of soccer, and we’re proud that Subaru: Gear for Good will help deepen that impact, especially as we head into 2026. Every piece of equipment collected and donated brings us closer to breaking down barriers and making the game more accessible for all.”

Each beneficiary was selected for its mission to support local youth through soccer, sports, and development programs. These organizations will receive brand-new gear from Subaru tailored to their specific programs and needs. Through partnerships with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union and the youth sports nonprofit Leveling the Playing Field, Subaru is also collecting soccer equipment via its donation bin network, which includes 17 Subaru retailers and Subaru Park, the Union’s home stadium in Chester, PA. This gear will be distributed to more than 100 youth programs on an ongoing basis in coordination with Leveling the Playing Field and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Collection will continue through April 3, 2026, as Subaru works toward its goal of distributing at least 2,026 pieces of new and gently used equipment.

Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: “Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is proud to stand alongside Subaru, the Philadelphia Union, and Leveling the Playing Field in a partnership that puts our young people first. Every day, we see how access to sports can open doors—building confidence, community, and dreams for the future. As we prepare for the world stage in 2026, this initiative underscores Philadelphia’s commitment to giving every young person a chance to truly see themselves in the game.”

As part of the collection initiative, community members throughout Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey can donate new or gently used soccer gear, including cleats, goalie gloves, shin guards, soccer balls, and more, through April 3, 2026, for a chance to win a range of prizes, including a trip to the 2026 MLS All-Star Weekend. The Subaru: Gear for Good Sweepstakes (official rules) is open to legal U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who live within a 75-mile radius of Subaru Park.

Kaitlin Brennan, Chief Operating Officer, Leveling the Playing Field: “Partnering with Subaru in celebration of the global soccer heading to Philadelphia greatly amplifies our mission – to expand access and equity within the realm of youth sports. This effort provides children with the opportunity to get involved with sports at a young age, granting the chance to experience the holistic benefits of youth sports on their physical, mental, and emotional health.”

Charlie Slonaker, Chief Revenue Officer, Philadelphia Union: “At the Union, we’re committed to making the game accessible to every child who wants to play. The Subaru: Gear for Good initiative helps remove equipment barriers, so access is determined by passion, not resources. With the excitement of 2026 coming to Philadelphia, we’re proud to work with Subaru of America and Leveling the Playing Field to expand opportunities for youth across the area and help continue to grow the game.”

The Subaru: Gear for Good initiative will give even more kids access to the gear they need to join teams, stay active, and enjoy the game. Any surplus donated items will be shared with additional youth organizations throughout the collection period. For more information, including donation locations, eligibility details, and official rules, visit philadelphiaunion.com/SubaruGearforGood.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

 

About Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union is an innovative, forward-thinking professional soccer club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) and one of Philadelphia’s five major league sports teams. Driven by unprecedented fan support, MLS awarded the Philadelphia expansion franchise rights to Jay Sugarman in 2008 and the Union kicked off its inaugural season in 2010. The club has reached the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018, and has appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2020, the Union were awarded the club’s first Supporters’ Shield after finishing with the best regular season record in MLS. In 2022, the Union reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history. In 2023, the Union reached the Eastern Conference semifinals, becoming the only Eastern Conference team to reach the semifinals in four of the last five seasons.

The Philadelphia Union is part of parent company Union Sports and Entertainment LLC, which also operates Philadelphia Union II, the Philadelphia Union Academy, Philadelphia Union Foundation and Philadelphia Union Youth Programs. With a commitment to developing youth, the Union has signed 25 academy prospects to homegrown player contracts.

The Union play at Subaru Park in Chester, PA on the banks of the Delaware River. The custom-built stadium is part of the Union’s unique waterfront campus, featuring a historic power plant rebuilt into a 400,000 sq. ft. creative office building, a state-of-the-art Training Complex, over seven acres of professional-grade practice pitches, and the newly announced WSFS Bank Sportsplex, a world-class, 365-day-a-year sports and recreation complex featuring indoor fieldhouse and seven outdoor fields. For more information about the Philadelphia Union, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com and follow @PhilaUnion on Twitter or Instagram.

About Leveling the Playing Field

Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding access and equity in youth sports by redistributing new and gently-used sports equipment to under-resourced communities. Founded in 2013, LPF addresses the growing gap between those who can afford to participate in sports and those who cannot, recognizing the high cost of sporting goods as a major barrier.

Through a network of community donations and volunteers, LPF collects and sorts sports and recreational equipment, then supplies it to schools, community programs, and youth organizations across several regions. This philanthropic model not only provides gear but also empowers organizations to redirect limited budgets toward transportation, nutrition, staffing, and program expansion—making youth sports more inclusive and accessible for all.

With LPF’s support, youth programs are able to stretch their resources further. By removing the barrier of equipment cost, LPF helps create more inclusive and enriching opportunities for young athletes. Together, we’re building a future where every child has the chance to play, grow, and thrive through sports.

For more information, visit levelingtheplayingfield.org and follow us @lpfsports on Instagram. 

 

 

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other, and to fun, physical, and social opportunities. More than 3,000 full-time and seasonal employees proudly serve Philly residents every day, ensuring the department remains a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit www.phila.gov/parksandrec and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook or Instagram.