LeBron James took the internet by storm when he decided to join the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, this time, he is making the headlines for a different reason altogether. As a part of his ‘I Promise’ campaign, The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered up with Akron Public Schools to open up his own public school in Akron, Ohio.
The ‘I Promise’ School initiative will start off with 240 fourth-graders - kids from Akron who need it the most. The kids will receive free tuition, free uniforms and even free bicycles and helmets. It doesn’t end there. They will also have access to free transportation within a 2-mile radius and breakfast, lunch and snacks.
However, it is not just the kids who stand to benefit from this initiative. There will be food pantries for their families along with GED classes and job placement services for the parents/ guardians. Every student who successfully completes this programme will be sent to the University of Akron. The tuition fee will be covered by LeBron and his foundation.
In an interview with ESPN, LeBron said, “Walking these hallways and seeing, when I was driving here, just the streets that I walked, some of the stores are still up when I was growing up. It’s a moment I’ll never forget — and hopefully the kids, starting with the 240 kids that we have going in here right now starting today, will never forget it, either.”
More power to you King James!
