Introduction
LeBron James is a famous basketball player known globally and has won multiple prizes and trophies individually and collectively as the team. Despite his ever fame, money and influence, James has done very well regarding giving back to the community through his LeBron James Family Foundation. The work of his foundation is the focus of the study in this work.
LeBron James Foundation
Many sports celebrities are known for their lavish lifestyles and controversies. It is different from James. James decided to offer himself as an example to the young upcoming basketball players and show them how to use their influence to make a change in the society. James started his now very important foundation that has attracted attention across the globe. In 2015, for example, the NBA star gave forty-two million dollars to the University of Akron. The money was to put up what is now LeBron James Foundation. The foundation’s main task is to raise money for charities for clubs (Nagelhout).
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The Foundation’s Achievements
LeBron James Foundation has positively affected the lives of young people by way of educating them and through various sports. The goal is to offer the young people an opportunity to develop their careers and achieve their goals. The development of children through education and sports is significant in shaping their lives of the children and their public roles. The sole mission of (LJFF) TheLeBron James Family Foundation is bringing positive effects to the lives of young people by way of mentorship and education initiatives. Co-Curricular engagements in schools and outside school also are critical to the development of the child. The LJFF believes in empowering children in active roles that change their lives for good.
LeBron James’ Initiatives and Contributions
In a tweet through his official Twitter account, James said this about a kid under the LJF program,
“This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams, 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” (Augustin)
Through education and support system of the Foundation, James has accomplished an essential aspect of community service, that is, offering emotional and social – the economic boost to the mainly underprivileged boys and girls (Fresco). Moreover, James has provided guidance on life skills and confidence to the young ones. The above marks critical resources of the LeBron James foundation that is vital for the University of Akron’s mentorship program. Through the same foundation, he has initiated a campaign dubbed ‘I Promise’ which is a way of recognizing how best real change can affect the life of a young person and committing to strive to greater heights. It is a life-long commitment and dedication to cub dropout cases in schools alongside many societal problems that young people go through like drug abuse.
The program of ‘I Promise’ through the LJF, has now achieved a record four years of dedication and making real change in the society. Mentees of the program and the young people under the plan came together last month to celebrate this milestone.
The LJF has expanded to other states and towns, and this just goes to show the impact nature of the program and how the community has embraced it. The Akron Public Schools are a testimony to the fact that the idea of LJF is growing very fast. Mentorship courses offered through the ‘I Promise’ programs have doubled and are now being provided as general elective units, giving students an opportunity to realize their dreams.
Former USA First Lady and 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton appreciated James’ work in a tweet that read “James is a great family man, incredible ballplayer, gives back to his community, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He’s a world class athlete and a class act. We need more like him in this world.” (AFP News) The recognition by such a high profile person in the USA in that manner is by no mean feat. It is a great honor indeed and just goes to show that he is one of the most charitable athletes we have in the world. The LJF and the ‘I Promise’ campaign is about offering help in an initiative to create a school designed program to help kids who are lag behind in education and are facing difficulties at home. In all the above engagements, LeBron serves as the main donor to help nurture talent and offering the outside-the-classroom targets of the learning institution.
Also, the programs of LJF like stress management to students and counseling. Parents who are poor and struggle to meet the needs of the students are helped to manage the needs of their children. The program also incorporates activities that keep the children busy and avoid idling and potentially engaging in harmful behaviors (Miller).
LeBron James’ Motivation
The NBA superstar is fond of crediting his young life where he would use a bicycle to run out of a dangerous situation in his neighborhood. Therefore, in his new inclusion to the program, every student is to receive a bicycle to enable them to keep fit and remain in the prism of the goals of the programs they are being offered at LJF. To top up the good work, LeBron has funded a 2011 program he called ‘Wheels of Education Program’ that offer kids different items like computers, bicycles, and food. The decision is to keep the learners in school and provide them an equal chance to further their studies.
- AFP News. “Melania Trump praises LeBron James after president’s insult.” 2018. AFP News. 06 Aug 2018 https://www.afp.com/en/news/207/melania-trump-praises-lebron-james-after-presidents-insult-doc-1852un1
- Augustin, Camille. “LeBron James Opens ‘I Promise’ School For At-Risk Youth In Akron, Ohio.” 30 July 2018. Vibe. 06 Aug 2018
- Augustin, Camille. “LeBron James Opens ‘I Promise’ School For At-Risk Youth In Akron, Ohio.” 30 July 2018. Vibe. 06 Aug 2018
- Fresco, Estee. “In LeBron James’ promotional skin: Self-branded athletes and fans’ immaterial labor.” Journal of Consumer Culture (2017): 1469540517745705.
- Miller, Erin, et al. “Helping a community to help their kids: Bringing services together in a community hub in inner-city Sydney, Australia.” International Journal of Integrated Care 17.5 (2017)
- Nagelhout, Ryan. Lebron James: Basketball’s King. 1st ed., Lucent Press, An Imprint Of Greenhaven Publishing., 2016, pp. 24, 70.
