Lebron James' I Promise School Gets $1 Million Grant for New Gym

LeBron James just received a $1 million grant for his I Promise School's new gym, thanks to a very generous donor.

LeBron James has done wonders for thousands of students after opening his own school, but now he's about to make an even bigger impact by having a bigger gym for future athletes to thrive.

Thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods and the company's Sports Matter initiative, the Los Angeles Lakers now has an additional budget to create gyms in low-income areas. This comes after school sports budgets have been cut drastically in recent years, so this would definitely "address the funding crisis" which encourages physical education and after-school sports.

I Promise School

In 2018, LeBron opened the I Promise School to serve at-risk youth. Now, his vision is expanding thanks to the partnerships he's building, which he says will provide so many opportunities to the youth.

"To my kids, this is more than a gym. The Dick's Sports Matter program is helping us provide even more opportunities. An opportunity to play and learn in a safe place that many don't have access to. I can't imagine where my friends and I would be if it weren't for the coaches and teachers who cared about us and the opportunities we had."

The school was founded in partnership with Akron Public Schools and the LeBron James Family Foundation, which hosts 240 of Akron Public Schools' most at-risk third-and-fourth-graders. Whoever graduates from the school receives free tuition to the University of Akron.

Praises for LeBron

Many people were instantly impressed by James' drive to help the children of Akron, supporting the school and its initiatives. It reached such a wide audience, that even former US President Barack Obama praised LeBron for the work he was doing.

“Another good story worth sharing: From one "kid from Akron" to a new generation of Akron kids, some remarkable early achievements at @IPROMISESchool. Great work, @KingJames —and even better work by those students. Proud to be a witness to their success.”

Former First Lady Michelle Obama also said a few kind words, saying that so many things can happen when people believe and invest in children.

Way to go, LeBron!