LeBron James Opens First 'I Promise' School

[soccerdad72]

This was all over the news earlier this week...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...on-james-promise-school-akron-ohio/862159002/

I know LeBron can be a pretty polarizing figure (and as a Clevelander, I wish he was still playing here), but when it comes to his commitment to trying to help kids in his hometown of Akron, he's absolutely put his money where his mouth is.

 

[cabanafrau]

I know nothing about basketball or him, but you've got to root for anything that's trying to put something good into the world.

 

[SaintsManiac]

He is an amazing human being.

 

[Scifidiner]

It sure beats just kneeling and complaining...….

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't know the first thing about LeBron James---but what I have seen about the school looks really good.
That's been my "if I won the powerball" dream for years---start and fund a GOOD school, that supports kids and families. It's exciting to see someone really doing that.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It sure beats just kneeling and complaining...….

That didn't take long---fourth post in and instead of talking about the school or James, someone turns it into a complaint about the NFL protest. Sheesh.

Also, about the "just kneeling and complaining"

https://www.sbnation.com/2018/1/31/...organizations-million-dollar-pledge-10-for-10

 

[cabanafrau]

Isn't LeBron James a basketball player? NBA, not NFL, correct?

 

[Minniefan2296]

Isn't LeBron James a basketball player? NBA, not NFL, correct?

Yes.

 

[PollyannaMom]

This looks great!

 

[cabanafrau]

Yes.

Thanks I knew I was ignorant about him, but I thought I at least understood the correct sport.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks I knew I was ignorant about him, but I thought I at least understood the correct sport.

That is about the extent of what I thought i knew too

 

[disneyjunkie]

Lebron James is the G.O.A.T.

He is truly living up to W.E.B. Dubois' idea of The Talented Tenth.

I hope other athletes and entertainers that came from our communities will follow his lead.

 

[JimMIA]

Lebron James is the G.O.A.T.

He is truly living up to W.E.B. Dubois' idea of The Talented Tenth.

I hope other athletes and entertainers that came from our communities will follow his lead.

A LOT of athletes do give back incredibly to their communities.

Here in South Florida, we have the Dan Marino Children's Hospital and the Nicklaus (Jack, the golfer) Children's Hospital. Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neill, and Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat have all been great contributors, as was LeBron when he was here.

And that's both in money and time -- Shaq has been a reserve police officer for many years, first with Miami-Dade and now with Miami Beach. Can you imagine Shaq in a police uniform asking you, "Please don't do that again?"

And a number of the Miami Marlins baseball players spend off time visiting schools, reading to the kids.

 

[Imzadi]

I hope other athletes and entertainers that came from our communities will follow his lead.

I hope other athletes and entertainers that came from ALL communities will follow his lead.

 

[disneyjunkie]

A LOT of athletes do give back incredibly to their communities.

Here in South Florida, we have the Dan Marino Children's Hospital and the Nicklaus (Jack, the golfer) Children's Hospital. Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neill, and Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat have all been great contributors, as was LeBron when he was here.

And that's both in money and time -- Shaq has been a reserve police officer for many years, first with Miami-Dade and now with Miami Beach. Can you imagine Shaq in a police uniform asking you, "Please don't do that again?"

And a number of the Miami Marlins baseball players spend off time visiting schools, reading to the kids.

When I said follow his lead, I was referring to opening schools. QUALITY Education is the great equalizer. A quality education can have generational impact.

I would love to see Jay Z, Tyler Perry, Oprah...open schools in conjunction with school systems across the country, to serve the same population that The Promise School serves.

 

[JimMIA]

When I said follow his lead, I was referring to opening schools. QUALITY Education is the great equalizer. A quality education can have generational impact.

Sure education is critical (one of my daughters and many of my friends are teachers), but it's certainly not the only way to contribute to positive change.

One example. Miami Children's Hospital was on the verge of bankruptcy when Jack Nicklaus stepped in to help. Why? Because an huge portion of their patients were Medicaid recipients, and because of the low reimbursement rates for Medicaid the hospital was struggling financially.

You can't have "generational change" if the generations don't live long enough to go to those great schools -- because there is no hospital with enormous experience and the right kind of exceptional specialists to pull those really sick low-income kids through.

There is no "one pill" that society can take to fix all our problems. Many good people -- athletes, entertainers, teachers, cops, clergy, taxi drivers, bartenders -- have to do thousands of good deeds to make a difference. Some do; most don't.

Everything counts, and everyone who is blessed (or cursed) with fame and fortune who doesn't GIVE BACK really needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

 

[kimblebee]

When I said follow his lead, I was referring to opening schools. QUALITY Education is the great equalizer. A quality education can have generational impact.

I would love to see Jay Z, Tyler Perry, Oprah...open schools in conjunction with school systems across the country, to serve the same population that The Promise School serves.

Oprah has opened a school. Granted, it’s not in the US but it’s doing good somewhere.

 

[kimblebee]

A LOT of athletes do give back incredibly to their communities.

Here in South Florida, we have the Dan Marino Children's Hospital and the Nicklaus (Jack, the golfer) Children's Hospital. Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neill, and Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat have all been great contributors, as was LeBron when he was here.

And that's both in money and time -- Shaq has been a reserve police officer for many years, first with Miami-Dade and now with Miami Beach. Can you imagine Shaq in a police uniform asking you, "Please don't do that again?"

And a number of the Miami Marlins baseball players spend off time visiting schools, reading to the kids.

Also, many athletes do work and don’t go out and brag about it. Not saying that’s what LaBron is doing..he deserves every accolade he gets.

 

[missbrooke06]

When I said follow his lead, I was referring to opening schools. QUALITY Education is the great equalizer. A quality education can have generational impact.

I would love to see Jay Z, Tyler Perry, Oprah...open schools in conjunction with school systems across the country, to serve the same population that The Promise School serves.

I completely disagree. While I admire Lebron for this, I don't believe millionaires should have to open schools for children to get a quality education. If we have to cross our fingers that celebrities spend their money on educating US children, we've failed.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

It sure beats just kneeling and complaining...….

Or grouching about kneeling and doing absolutely nothing.