The NBA star has partnered with the University of Akron to provide a guaranteed four-year scholarship to the school for students in James’ "I Promise" program who qualify. The scholarship will cover tuition and the university’s general service fee — currently $9,500 per year. James told ESPN he plans to provide this for 1,100 kids, which would cost his foundation a total of $41.8 million at the school’s current rates.
A group of teenagers traveled from Akron, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland and Lebron James' hometown. They had gone down with him to New Orleans to go help build houses for family's in need. They are sawing, hammering, drilling and putting up drywall trying to make the house livable.
One of several examples of how James is helping the community is his “I Promise” program, which urges kids to make good on their goals in life. At the 2013 I Promise Family Reunion event in Akron, Ohio, James delivered hundreds of bikes, e-books from Sebco Books, and Samsung tablets to 700 kids in the program.
What started out as a group of a couple hundred third graders is now nearing 1,200 Akron Public Schools students and growing by the year. His organization has expanded with the Akron I PROMISE Network for the middle school kids to make sure they're meeting their needs as well. And his kids know if they put in the work, they’ve got a full, four-year scholarship to The University of Akron waiting for them.
Back when he was a student searching for Akron on the world map, he dreamed he would someday be in a position to give back to the community that had done so much for him. Seeing these students succeed and create a better life for themselves and their families is what drives him daily. Their dreams are his dreams. They were his purpose, and together, we can change the world.
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http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/lebron-james-college-scholarships-akron-university-cavaliers-i-promise-081315
Tegna. “LeBron
James Sponsors Teens Rebuilding Homes in NOLA.” WKYC, 17 Feb. 2017, www.wkyc.com/sports/nba/lebron-james/lebron-james-sends-teens-to-rebuild-houses/409268591. Accessed 27 Mar. 2017
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