In addition to being a superstar in the NBA, Lebron James is a philanthropic Alumnus. The professional basketball player contributes significantly to Akron, Ohio, his birthplace. James is extremely successful not only in basketball but also in endorsement agreements. He is consistently charitable and willing to support causes that he believes in and those in need; he never forgets his humble origins.
On December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, Lebron was born to Gloria, his mother, who was only sixteen years old at the time. She effectively raised him notwithstanding her youth and the numerous occupations she held. For the sake of stability, Gloria had Lebron move in with Frank Waller and his family when he was nine years old. As the junior basketball coach in the area, Waller sparked Lebron’s interest in the sport.
Lebron demonstrated exceptional basketball prowess. “King James” was his moniker at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, where he excelled athletically. The NBA and the media hailed him as the prospective NBA superstar. Lebron was promptly acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall selection in the draft. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2004 and contributed to the team’s 2007 first-round appearance. The primary concern when Lebron became a free agent was whether or not he would remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
ESPN promoted Lebron’s dilemma with an hour-long special titled “The Decision” in 2010. Despite his reluctance to participate in the special, Lebron chose to donate the proceeds to charity. Cleveland supporters were disappointed when Lebron decided to join the Miami Heat. Despite facing criticism for betraying his community, the proceeds from the special proved to be a substantial reward, as it amassed over $3 million for charitable causes and garnered a viewership of 10 million. Lebron donated the majority of the funds to Boys and Girls Clubs across the nation, allocating the remainder to other charitable organizations that shared his commitment to aiding children.
Lebron enjoyed a prosperous tenure with the Miami Heat. He contributed to the Heat’s 2012 NBA championship and was designated NBA Most Valuable Player in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. In 2008 and 2012, Lebron also earned Olympic gold medals. Lebron returned to action for the Cleveland Cavaliers, much to the delight of Cleveland, and guided them to the 2016 NBA Championship.
Lebron has never become preoccupied with his reputation. The Lebron James Family Foundation was established by him. The foundation makes charitable contributions and fund-raising efforts. A few of these organizations are ONEXONE, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, After-School All-Stars, the Children’s Defense Fund, and Gabriel’s Angle Foundation.
The following are the five largest organizations to which Lebron James contributes.
After-School All-Stars
For the youth of Lebron’s homeland of Akron, the After-School All-Stars were established by his Foundation. For many years, the Foundation has raised funds and made charitable contributions. “Wheels For Education” began as a bicycle-a-thon to generate funds so that Akron children could receive assistance with their education and have a place to go after school. It evolved into a program designed to assist Akron’s “at risk” students in numerous ways. The program offers academic support, mentoring, and participation in extracurricular activities. The objective is to promote student retention and graduation. Students are required to meet state standards beginning in the third grade in order to advance to the fourth grade.
The mentoring program assists children in reading and mathematics and dissuades them from falling out of school prior to completing their secondary education. In support of the program, Lebron’s Foundation has in total raised more than $40 million. Lebon and the University of Akron have recently collaborated to award scholarships. Parents are encouraged to participate in the program, which is mandatory for the children. Lebron is an active participant in the program. He maintains a virtual connection with the children through social media when he is unable to be present. Over 800 students are presently sponsored by the program. In 2021, the first graduating ceremony will be held. The scholarship provides annual college tuition coverage of $9500 for each pupil. Lebron intends for the initiative to be expanded to the entire state of Ohio.
Recently, Lebron James contributed to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Muhammad Ali exhibit through a monetary donation. The museum’s “Muhammad Ali: A Force For Change” exhibit is divided into two sections: one commemorates Ali’s illustrious boxing career, and the other examines his contributions to social activism. Joining Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in contributing $2.5 million to the exhibition was Lebron. LeBrom has stated that Ali served as a significant role model for him both athletically and in his advocacy for justice. Lebron admired the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who succumbed to Parkinson’s disease in June 2016, on account of his fervor, objectives, and ethical standards throughout and subsequent to the civil rights movement.
Boys and Girls Club of America
Boys and Girls Clubs of America been allocated $2.5 million from the proceeds of ESPN’s “The Decision” special, as designated by Lebron James. During his time in Miami, Lebron was extremely active with the club. In addition to facilitating equal opportunities for all students, the club offers mentoring and extracurricular activities. Lebron and his spouse collaborated with Home Court Furniture to design and contribute furniture to the Miami club. The roof was replaced, and the children’s work area was repaired. One thousand new computers were donated to 59 Boys and Girls Clubs across the United States.
Fund for Children’s Defense
In 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund was established. Its mission is to advocate for the rights of children and ensure that every child is treated fairly and equitably. Significant funding is contributed by the Lebron James Foundation to the non-profit organization. Similar to the After-School All-Stars, this program assists economically disadvantaged children who are deemed “at risk” and impede their academic progress.
ONEXONE
Furthermore, ONEXONE is committed to assisting minors. Their mission encompasses providing assistance to children in the following five areas: water, food, education, health, and recreation. Similar to After-School All-Stars, the organization empowers children by instilling in them a sense of dignity and hope through the use of donated funds to assist those in need. The program supplies schools with nourishing breakfasts, water, medical assistance, educational support, and extracurricular activities. Similar to the majority of his philanthropic endeavors, Lebron prioritizes giving back to children. His Foundation contributes significantly to ONEXONE. It is evident that Lebron James never neglected his modest beginnings. Lebron possibly could not have attained the level of success that he has without the support and motivation of mentors such as his mother and the Waller family. Lebron’s benevolence and compassion have been motivated by his prowess as a basketball player. He never allowed his vanity to prevent him from returning the favor to the children and those who had inspired him.
The I Promise School
Recently, James made headlines in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he constructed a brand-new I Promise School for at-risk youth. It should come as no surprise that James has demonstrated his high regard for education. This is the same individual who funded the college education of one thousand children and founded “Wheels for Education,” an initiative that provides low-income children with school supplies, computer access, and bicycles.
James stated in a CNN interview with Don Lemon, “We want every child who passes through this institution to be motivated and to leave with something constructive to contribute to the world.” “In general, children only desire to know that someone is concerned about them.” I hope they will know that someone cares when they enter that door.
