Tag: I Promise School

LeBron James wins Kids Choice award and UNINTERRUPTED gets Webby noms

LeBron James won Kids Choice awards over the weekend and his media company UNINTERRUPTED received two Emmy nominations.

Although LeBron James would likely be playing in the playoffs right about now under normal circumstances, LeBron and one of the brands closest to him came away with some awards and award nominations over the weekend.

LeBron James won two awards from the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards, including Male Athlete of the Year and “Generation Change” recipient for his work with the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, which began schooling in the summer of 2018. James accepted the award last night and shared that he would be sending the Kids Choice Awards to the I Promise School for them to be there whenever students are able to return.

LeBron’s athlete-focused sports media company UNINTERRUPTED also received two Webby nominations for their work. The nominations were for “Best Overall Social Presence” in the category of Sports, while they also earned a nomination for “Best Social Campaign: Diversity & Inclusion” for their campaign called “Love Is Uninterrupted,” featuring Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.

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LeBron James helping put on ‘Graduate Together’ for 2020 Class

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is putting on a graduation event for students nationwide amidst the coronavirus.

Perhaps more than basketball itself, the biggest passion in the life of LeBron James is probably education. School is often one of the metaphors that LeBron reaches for when he wants to make a comparison and it was a time in his life, especially in high school, that he associates with some great times in his life. He wants to make sure that other kids who are graduating in a bizarre situation in 2020 have something that makes them feel special under the circumstances.

LeBron James announced via his social channels on Wednesday that his LeBron James Family Foundation would be teaming up with the education company XQ to provide a “Graduate Together” event that will air on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC on Saturday, May 16 at 8 p.m.

The Class of 2020 won’t have the opportunity for a traditional graduation ceremony with a walk alongside their classmates, sharing a final moment with their teachers before they move on to their next life. Also, they will not have the moment to celebrate the accomplishment that it is in the way that classes before them had. Although it won’t be the same, LeBron is working to make sure the Class of 2020 has its moment.

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LeBron says new documentary about ‘I Promise’ school brought tears to his eyes

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared his feelings on the new documentary on Quibi during an Instagram Live on Monday.

LeBron James has said it many times before but there is no doubt that the new documentary series on Quibi about his ‘I Promise’ school in Akron, Ohio, has reinforced the feeling that creating the school is the greatest accomplishment of his Hall of Fame career. The new series debuted yesterday as the Quibi platform finally became available.

On Monday afternoon, James took questions for 15 minutes on the I Promise School’s Instagram page. He told fans that some of the scenes about the school, which he watched with his family, brought tears, even though he was an Executive Producer.

Via Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal

“I watched it here with my whole family — my wife, my daughter Zhuri, Bronny and Bryce, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law … there were times we were laughing, there were times where tears were coming down, not only [from] my eyes, my family members’ eyes as well,” James said.

“Most of my family loved Vince, Dae’Shanna, Scout and seeing how far Scout was able to come, just seeing how fast she was trying to read and trying to articulate it in her mind. She was speaking really fast. You just see her progression, the same with Nate.”

With the I Promise School focusing largely on helping kids deal with trauma from their lives, allowing them to have the capacity to learn, it’s clear that the stories on the show brought them to life in a way that was already very real for LeBron.
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Quibi announces April 6 release for ‘I Promise’ school documentary

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will have a new documentary about his school in Akron, Ohio coming out on Quibi.

The new documentary that focuses on the first year of LeBron James’ I Promise public school in Akron, Ohio finally has a release date on mobile-focused streaming platform Quibi.

Quibi announced a release date of April 6 for the documentary as part of a new lineup of original programming that the company is launching. The documentary is simply titled I PROMISE and here’s a little bit of a description from the filmmakers.

I PROMISE is an original documentary series featuring an in-depth look at the first academic year inside the groundbreaking I Promise School that opened its doors in 2018. I PROMISE tells the story of LeBron James’ efforts to close the achievement gap in his hometown of Akron, Ohio through the eyes of the inspiring students who are resetting expectations of their futures. The series will explore the day-to-day trials, triumphs, and life-changing impact of the school staff, students and families working together in a unique, family-first educational environment that embraces the trauma and challenges many face in Akron.

You can also watch a trailer for the series below. James also has a children’s book that goes by the same name scheduled to release in August, but it’s unclear if the global pandemic of coronavirus will slow the release date for the book.

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LeBron James provided a Taco Tuesday to feed 1,300 people in Akron

“Taco Tuesday” is taking on a new, much more important meaning in the universe of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

LeBron James has made it very well-known over the past few years how much he loves tacos, especially when they come on Tuesday. But Taco Tuesday has a new, more important meaning now in light of a global pandemic that has completely changed most of American life.

As you all know by now, schools across the country are moving to remote learning or will be postponed for a while. One of the schools affected is the I Promise school in Akron, Ohio that LeBron James helped start, but is part of the Akron Public school district. On Tuesday, James and the school started a two-week Taco Tuesday program for 340 I Promise students and their families. It will happen again next Tuesday as well, totaling nearly 700 meals over 2 weeks. In total, the meals given out were closer to 1,300, according to USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt. The meals were also given while adhering to social distancing protocols.

Akron Family Restaurant co-owner Nick Corpas said he got a call last week and was excited to help. He started making his orders almost immediately and began prepping for the meals on Monday. He and restaurant employees arrived at the restaurant at 6 a.m. ET Tuesday to cook and assemble the meals.

He said they finished around 4 p.m., and LJFF volunteers parked cars outside the restaurant. Adhering to social distancing recommendations, the volunteers remained in their cars while workers and volunteers placed the food in trunks.

Each serving tray provided food for four to five people — enough for more than 1,300 people to have dinner.

While the spread of the coronavirus and the pandemic has forced everyone inside, LeBron is still upholding his commitment to go above and beyond for his kids at the I Promise School. LeBron’s Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma also committed to providing 500 meals a week to kids in his hometown of Flint, Michigan through the Flint YMCA.

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‘I Promise’ school in Akron to be featured in new documentary series

The story of the school started by the Los Angeles Lakers star in his hometown of Akron, Ohio will air on the streaming platform Quibi.

Although the school has been profiled by media outlets of all kinds, rarely has there been the amount of access to the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, started by LeBron James in 2018, as there is in an upcoming documentary series about the school, their students and their methods.

Quibi and SpringHill Entertainment announced a new production on Monday entitled “I PROMISE,” which will feature incredible access to the school, its students, staff, and of course, LeBron James, who is also an executive producer on the production. The documentary is being directed by Marc Levin, who created movies such as “Brick City,” and “Chicagoland.” They also released a trailer.

As you can see in the trailer, the “I PROMISE” documentary will follow the school in their first year as they try to help kids from poor backgrounds in the city of Akron get through school and eventually to college. The program began with 3rd and 4th graders because James wanted to make an impact on the lives of children as early as possible.

The school has also implemented emotional education, as they prioritize helping kids deal with trauma as well as the educational growth of their students.

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LeBron James to author ‘I Promise’ children’s book, out in August

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is adding children’s book author to his already extensive resume of achievements.

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers are still a few days away from resuming their regularly scheduled season, the world of LeBron James is constantly in motion. On Tuesday, news broke that James, in addition to his basketball and entertainment exploits, will add children’s book author to his resume after signing a two-book deal with publisher HarperCollins, with the first set to release in August of this year.

“I Promise” by LeBron James, featuring illustrations from artist Nina Mata, will be LeBron’s first children’s book. The book, according to a press release, is inspired by the values that LeBron champions at the I Promise public school in Akron, Ohio.

“Books have the ability to teach, inspire, and bring people together. That’s why these books, and the opportunity to get children and parents reading together, mean so much to me,” said LeBron James. “Most importantly, we wanted to make sure these stories are ones that every single kid can see themselves in. I PROMISEis powerful in that way and I can’t wait for people to read it.”

The book is already available for pre-order. The “I Promise” school and program has had a busy couple of weeks, with Kent State University guaranteeing full tuition to the first graduating class of the “I Promise” network.

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LeBron James says giving kids college options ‘best thing I’ve ever done’

The Los Angeles Lakers star was asked about the latest news that Kent State offered scholarships to LeBron’s first I Promise class.

After another strong performance by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in last night’s win over the Denver Nuggets to push them into the All-Star break, James finally had some time to reflect on a major accomplishment for one of his biggest off-court endeavors.

On Wednesday, the LeBron James Family Foundation shared a video that showed the first graduating class from the I Promise program, which will graduate next summer, receiving four-year scholarships to Kent State University. This gesture from Kent State is a separate offer from the commitment from the University of Akron, which gives I Promise students full tuition.

James said that being able to help these kids from when they were young to now when they are able to have multiple options of tuition-free college is the best thing he’s ever done.

LeBron is proud of his incredible basketball accomplishments but as he has been vocal about for over a decade now, he hopes that what he creates outside of basketball as an impact that’s even bigger.

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Nike LeBron 17 I Promise School sneakers set to release on January 21

Nike LeBron 17 I Promise School sneakers set to release on January 21 for a retail price of $200. Nike will be making a donation to the school through each purchase.

The Nike LeBron 17 I Promise School sneaker is set to release on January 21 at SNKRS North America and House of Hoops by Foot Locker. The “I Promise” colorway of LeBron’s latest signature shoe is inspired by his efforts to champion the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio as well as James’ commitment to improving education throughout his hometown.

Nike released images of the “I Promise” sneaker this week that highlight a colorful kaleidoscopic upper and outsole of the shoe that is said to represent LeBron’s passion, optimism, and focus for the school’s mission. The tongue features the LeBron James Family Foundation logo and the laces include phrases like, “I promise I will dream big.” Through each purchase of this sneaker, Nike will be making a donation to support the I Promise School’s mission.

The LeBron 17 “I Promise” shoe drops on SNKRS at 10 a.m. ET on January 21. They will be selling for a retail price of $200.

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Indianapolis Colts WR Parris Campbell supports LeBron’s I Promise School with cleats

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell supports LeBron’s I Promise School with cleats during NFL’s ‘My Cause My Cleats’ promotion.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell is just a kid from Akron, too. After graduating from LeBron James’ alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Campbell went on to become a star on the gridiron for The Ohio State University. Parris earned All-Big Ten honors for the Buckeyes before the Colts selected him in the second round this past summer with pick No. 59.

On Sunday, Campbell used the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” celebration as an opportunity to help support the work that LeBron and company have been putting in at the I Promise School in Akron over the last couple years. The Colts receiver had the “I Promise School” design and logo on the outside of one cleat and “Just A Kid From Akron” on the outside of the other during his team’s 38-35 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The rookie from OSU has caught 18 passes for Indianapolis this season for a total of 127 yards. He’s also added a receiving touchdown and 34 yards rushing. LeBron has since re-shared the images of Campbell in the custom cleats on Twitter and so has the I Promise School.

NFL players like Parris will have the opportunity to raise money for their causes by auctioning their cleats off at NFL Auction–100% of money raised will be donated to the player’s charities. Fans may bid on game-issued player cleats to help players raise funds for their chosen causes.

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