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In the summer of 2018, LeBron James opened the doors of his I PROMISE School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The school is dedicated to those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks. Lebron wrote in an Instagram post some of the ways that students and their families would be supported:
There’s more great news for the current students at I PROMISE: they just found out that they are getting free tuition at Kent State! People has more:
The inaugural class of the 35-year-old athlete’s school for at-risk children were surprised with free tuition to Kent State University when they recently visited the Ohio college at a part of class trip, according to an announcement made on Wednesday.
“When you show up to @KentState for your 11th grade experience outing, but find out you’re also getting FREE tuition for 4 years AND a year of free room & board‼️ 😱😭” the LeBron James Family Foundation — which founded the academy in 2018 — said in a tweet.
A video of the students reacting to the news was also shared to the I Promise School’s social media pages. “OMG. This is amazing @kentstate. 😭👏,” the institution wrote. “Continue blazing the trail for us @ljfamfoundation 11th graders. #IPROMISE.”
Yeah, I teared up watching the video in the tweet. You can see it below. Some of the students’ parents were watching the announcement, and most of them got teary, too.
Last year, The New York Times reported on the students’ success:
The academic results are early, and at 240, the sample size of students is small, but the inaugural classes of third and fourth graders at I Promise posted extraordinary results in their first set of district assessments. Ninety percent met or exceeded individual growth goals in reading and math, outpacing their peers across the district.
I am so excited for these students, so happy for them and their families, and am so glad that the school is proving to be a transformative space for the community. LeBron’s generosity is amazing, and will continue to shape Akron in positive ways for a long time.
I love LeBron. Love him.
This is incredible. LeBron, and everyone working to make this happen, the teachers, the parents, everyone, are heroes.
Education is everything. Any child can succeed, they just need healthy, happy, available adults in a safe place. XO This is inspired. I had no idea he had a school. I Promise? What a great name.
Proud Ohioan here. Lebron is a treasure.
Me too, Ohpioneer! He really is a treasure. Of course I will always remember his athletic achievements, but his philanthropy is what will be his true legacy. He’s a class act who never forgets where he came from.
What a wonderful story to start my Friday morning with. Kudos to LeBron!!
Amazing. James and the entire I PROMISE teaching community are making such a huge difference in those kids’ lives, and their families’ as well. Incredible.
So happy for those students. Kudos to Lebron for putting his money where his mouth is and getting things done.
I live in Akron about 10 minutes away from LeBron’s school! Let me tell you, it is a gorgeous school and what ALL kids deserve to have. LeBron is the real deal. He puts his money where his mouth is and really wants to make a difference.
This is incredible of course. But, since when do we (well, I mean, the US, mostly) depend on celebrities to educate our kids and rely on them to pay school? Such a strange concept to me…. But I guess, America
“The transformative power of higher education…” Yes! Absolutely beautiful gesture. Just what I needed to see today!!
Aw, that’s nice. My daughter goes to Kent State.
Lord, got me tearing up this morning! What a beautiful thing to read and a lovely video to watch. So happy for these students and their limitless potential.
The concept of paying for your education is beyond me. I am blessed to be able to study engineering without a lifetime of debt. These kids have the world ahead of them and I hope they all succeed.
My Sociology instructor (this was the late 60’s early 70’s she attended) told us that she attended college, UC Berkeley, at about $70 a credit hour and graduated and was able to move on to grad school with no real debt.
UC Berkeley. Yeah.
My son knew LeBron from high school. He has always been level headed and has surrounded himself with his friends and people who care for him. He has given back so much to Akron that he is considered a saint! It’s wonderful to see someone that has not let fame go to his head. I wish him nothing but happiness.
This is amazing. I love it ! Now if only other rich people could do the same. I know I would do exactly this if I was rich.
It there was not such inequality in all aspects of life here it should not have to be this way. Access to a top notch primary education and not having to spend all of your retirement years paying off student loans should be the norm.
Exactly. I love that he’s doing this, but I hate that he HAS to do this.
Every kid should get those opportunities.
So amazingly awesome!
I didn’t even make it through the piano introduction before turning on the waterworks 😭. Providing all the supports for the families (GED training, food, room and board for college) tells me this school did their research and are serious about success, not JUST the flashy tuition – giving opportunities without supports is too common in my view, like gifting someone keys to a fancy car without teaching them the rules of the road. Good start to the weekend!
This is so awesome. LeBron is doing some
great things for the Ohio community kids! Just wonderful.
It was the reaction of the mothers that got me. Like one mother said, ‘dreams answered’. A beautiful thing. God Bless LeBron!