By Stephen A. Crockett Jr., The Root
LeBron James has put Akron, Ohio on his back. On Tuesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers mega star announced that he will be partnering with Akron Public Schools to open a school to help at-risk children.
The I Promise School will cater to third- and fourth-graders during 2018 and will expand to teach first through eighth grade by 2022, the Associated Press reports.
“This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most—those that could fall through the cracks if we don’t do something,” James said during the announcement of the school, Cleveland.com reports.
“We’ve learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place along with the right resources and experts. If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families,” he said.
James’ school will expand the current Akron school curriculum to include a hands-on learning focus with an “emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, and a dedication to the foundation’s ‘We Are Family’ philosophy,” Cleveland.com reports.
This isn’t James’ first foray into helping the children of Akron. According to AP, James has helped 1,100 kids in his hometown with a variety of programs, including his partnership with the University of Akron, which provided four-year scholarships to qualifying students within his program.
