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July 31, 2018Three-time NBA Champion. Four-time MVP. Three-time Finals MVP. Fourteen-time All-Star. Three-Time All-Star MVP. Fourteen-time All-NBA. Six-time All-Defense.
The list is never-ending when talking about LeBron James’ accomplishments on the basketball court through his first 15 years in the NBA, but what if I told you that his biggest, most respected accomplishment he will always be remembered for has nothing to do with sports or a basketball?
There are a number of ways to use professional sports as a platform. Athletes can decide to use said platform however they’d like. For the King, he decided to use it to help the community that he will always call home, even if he may be playing basketball on the opposite coast.
Born in Akron in 1984, James isn’t that far removed from knowing exactly what his I Promise kids are going through. He and his mom, Gloria, changed houses constantly. In fact, they did so seven times in just one year. He knows the streets of Akron and what goes on there. He knows the everyday struggles those kids have to go through. He knows what those kids have to put up with. He knows that, while dreams are important, there’s a good chance that without help, those kids may never make their ultimate dreams became a reality. He knows how tough it is for some of those kids to have the motivation to even attend school.
All of this, along with a bunch of other reasons, is why LeBron and his foundation decided to create a school for these kids. It was 10 years in the making, and Monday, it finally came to fruition.
Whether you’re a basketball fan or not, James, his LeBron James Family Foundation and the Akron Public Schools officially opening the I Promise School at the ribbon-cutting for the school on Monday was a moment that everyone can appreciate. Not a LeBron fan? You can still respect that he is helping all of these underprivileged kids in Akron, or at least trying to. Not a basketball fan? I mean, look at what LeBron’s doing for these kids. Don’t like that LeBron left Cleveland again? I get it, but can’t we put basketball and sports on the backburner for now and realize how incredible this school and LeBron truly are?
The I Promise School consists of 40 staff members and will have both a longer school day and school year than other schools in the community. Here’s a look at how it differs from any other school, per SB Nation:
The school will operate with a longer-than-normal school year, with a focus on accelerated learning to bring kids up to speed who otherwise might be lagging. In addition, there is a focus on combating factors outside of the classroom that could cause children to struggle.
Services are available to help students deal from stress related to parents who are struggling to make ends meet. In addition there are activities to prevent the kids from having too much idle time and potentially getting into trouble.
The school also provides services to families, which include job placement assistance for parents and an on-site food bank that will allow parents to pick out foods they can prepare at home.
LeBron James often credits his bicycle as a huge factor in his childhood that gave him an escape from dangerous parts of his neighborhood and the freedom to explore — every student will receive a bicycle when they arrive.
its a state of the art facility, to say the least.
The “I Promise” School in the flesh—or brick. Spoiler: It’s gorgeous. pic.twitter.com/B5dfTI53de
— Scott (@WFNYScott) July 30, 2018
Here are a few shots of the inside, including the much-discussed shoe wall: https://t.co/kmOCbi5zBn pic.twitter.com/MY020d19pX
— Scott (@WFNYScott) July 31, 2018
Back in November, James revealed that opening the I Promise School would be the most important non-family related thing he’s ever done in his life. This school year, it will house 240 third- and fourth-graders but by 2021, grades 1-8 will be housed in the school. That same year, kids who complete the I Promise program will receive free tuition to the University of Akron thanks to No. 23.
“It is,” James said while speaking to the media during a shootaround. “Besides having three kids and marrying my wife, putting my mom in a position where she never has to worry about anything ever again for the rest of her life, this is right up there. Championships, MVPs, I mean, points, rebounds and assists, that stuff is, whatever.”
“A real school,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”
“For me to be able to open up a school and give back to my inner city, so many kids that I know because I was those kids,” James explained. “I walked those streets and it was just like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to be able to get out of this situation.’ I just thought about that every day. I had dreams and I had mentors and they allowed my dreams to become who I am today. People can talk about everything else besides that, but they can never take away what I’m able to do for my hometown and people all around the world. That’s what means to me more than anything,” he continued. “The basketball thing, I love it and I enjoy it, but to give back and be able to open up a school, that’s something that will last way beyond my years.”
He echoed that sentiment on his Twitter and while talking to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols inside one of the classrooms of the new school Monday afternoon.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1024064686034182145
The jitters before the first day of school are real right now!!! Tomorrow is going to be one of the greatest moments (if not the greatest) of my life when we open the #IPROMISE School. This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams… https://t.co/PwmRaHRfng
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 29, 2018
big dreams for the kids in Akron to give them everything they could need to find their passion, give back to our community and change the world!! This school is that. The people are that. Akron is that. @LJFamFoundation we've always done it big
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/kingjames/status/1023601607806660608?s=21
Whether it’s the appearance and layout, the staff members, the length of the school year and day, or anything else, so much thought was put into this, a decade’s worth, actually. To think that this isn’t even LeBron’s first time giving back to his hometown really is incredible to think. Whether it’s he and his LeBron James Family Foundation announcing that they would pay for more than 1,000 kids to attend the University of Akron, funding the “Wheels for Education” program, donated over $1 million dollars to his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and so much more. He has the money and resources, but no one is making LeBron do this. He is choosing to do it because he wants to help his hometown not only be better but improve while making sure kids have the best opportunity to be successful as well.
Two years after delivering on his promise to Cavs fans and bringing Cleveland it’s first major sports championship since 1964, LeBron delivered on a much bigger promise, one that gives hope to so many kids who at times feel hopeless. That’s truly what really matters in the end.
Just a kid from Akron, Ohio, James is now headed to Los Angeles after playing at the highest level in both Cleveland and Miami. Maybe, just maybe, a kid from his I Promise School will achieve that same dream now that they have the tools in front of them to help them out when they need it most.
Thank goodness LeBron (and others) never did just shut up and dribble because they are for more than just athletes. He may have left the Cavaliers for the second time in his career, but his legacy will continue to live on in Northeast Ohio because of all he has done for his hometown. The I Promise School is a great example of that. He’s one of the two best players in NBA history, but it’s amazing to think that he’s an even better person off the court.