The GOAT Can Do It All

LeBron James has officially opened the I Promise school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

The I Promise school will educate roughly 240 at-risk youths in the third and fourth grades.

According to an in-depth article with The Los Angeles Times, LeBron James described how school really didn’t mean much to him growing up. LeBron and his mother often had a hard time getting him to school due to their financial situation. They had no car, and with no car, LeBron missed 83 days of school in the fourth grade. Now, every student attending I Promise School will be given a bike for transportation and a Chromebook to complete their schoolwork.

No Matter Where He’s Playing, LeBron is Dedicated to his Hometown

Filled with murals of prolific black icons, including one of himself, The I Promise School officially opened its doors on Monday, July 30th, and is here to stay. The entire community will thrive. Families in need of assistance will benefit from the “family wraparound project”. This program is dedicated to providing parents with hard situations a chance for educational, financial, and emotional relief. Families in need will have the options of, a food pantry, GED program, job and family services, and housing help.

At the ceremony, LeBron spoke out about his recent transition to the Los Angeles Lakers,  “On one hand, I’m opening up a school where I would love to be here every single day when my schedule permits,” said LeBron during the opening ceremony to a classroom of gazing eyes. “And then, on the other hand, I’m starting a new journey in my life where I’m on the other coast. But when you have the support system and you have the people around you that have helped you along the way, you know you never travel alone. So it makes the transition easier.”

Not Your Regular School Schedule

I Promise School is a partnership with The LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. The schools hours run from 9 am to 5 pm. The school will be in session from July 30th through May 17th, with a 7-week break at the end. It’s is a longer school year than usual but with the services offered, it is worth it. The I Promise Public School is expected to expand its class range from kindergarten to eighth grade by 2022.