The Lebron James Family Foundation

WITH A COMMITMENT TO REDEFINING COMMUNITY AND BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES, THE LEBRON JAMES FAMILY FOUNDATION INVESTS ITS TIME, RESOURCES AND PASSION INTO CREATING GENERATIONAL CHANGE FOR THE KIDS AND FAMILIES OF JAMES' HOMETOWN IN AKRON, OHIO THROUGH A FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND CO-CURRICULAR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.

THE I PROMISE SCHOOL: LEBRON'S MISSION TO RAISE GRADUATION RATES IN HIS HOMETOWN OF AKRON, OHIO, HAS EVOLVED INTO A MOVEMENT THAT IS REDEFINING WHAT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE. AFTER A DECADE OF LISTENING AND LEARNING TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IT SERVES, THE FOUNDATION'S "WE ARE FAMILY" PHILOSOPHY MANIFESTED IN THE OPENING OF THE I PROMISE SCHOOL IN 2018 THAT WOULD PRIORITIZE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND LEAD WITH LOVE ALONGSIDE A STEM-BASED CURRICULUM. AS PART OF ITS GROUNDBREAKING MODEL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IPS MAINTAINS A FULL-TIME, ON-SITE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER THAT PROVIDES WIDE-RANGING SERVICES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDING LEGAL AID, MEDICAL CARE, GED CLASSES, FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING, JOB & FAMILY SERVICES, AND A FULL-TIME FOOD AND ESSENTIALS PANTRY. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION OFFSETS THE COSTS OF ADDITIONAL STAFF TO RUN THE FAMILY TRAINING CENTER THAT SERVES AS A TOOL FOR IMPLEMENTING SEL SUPPORTS AND REPLACES EXPULSION OR SUSPENSION THAT HELPS THE STUDENTS GET BACK IN THE CLASSROOM SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY AS WELL AS THE COST OF ADDITIONAL EDUCATORS TO KEEP CLASS SIZE AND STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS LOW FOR A MORE EFFICIENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE IPS EDUCATORS DURING THIS HARD WORK, THE FOUNDATION REGULARLY COVERS THE COST OF CLASSROOM AND PROJECT SUPPLIES AND PROVIDES OTHERS RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS TO PRIORITIZE THEIR WELL-BEING AS THEY POUR SO MUCH INTO THEIR STUDENTS. THE FOUNDATION IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE AT IPS.

I PROMISE VILLAGE: BUILDING ON THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS OFFERED TO ITS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, IN 2019 THE FOUNDATION OPENED THE I PROMISE VILLAGE THAT SERVES AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR ALL STUDENTS IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. AT THE VILLAGE, FAMILIES LIVE RENT-FREE AND FAMILY-FIRST WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SKILL-BUILDING PROGRAMMING TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THEIR NEXT PHASE. PROGRAMMING OFFERED FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN THE VILLAGE INCLUDE FAMILY MEALS, ON-SITE TUTORING FOR STUDENTS, YOGA AND PIANO CLASSES, HOLIDAY AND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, AND ACCESS TO JOB, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL PLANNING PROGRAMMING. AS WE CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM WHAT OUR FAMILIES NEED, WE CONTINUE TO LAYER IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS.

OTHER I PROMISE INITIATIVES: THE CORE I PROMISE PROGRAMMING OFFERED TO ALL I PROMISE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES EXTENDS INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH COLLEGE WITH THE I PROMISE NETWORK AND BEYOND. SUPPORTS FOR OUR OLDEST STUDENTS INCLUDE THE I PROMISE INSTITUTE SPACE LJFF FUNDS AND MAINTAINS WITH ALL THE RESOURCES AND SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON CAMPUS AS WELL AS OTHER COSTS OF GOING TO COLLEGE AND EXPERIENCES PROVIDED TO HELP PREPARE THEM ALONG THE WAY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES A MENTORING/COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS AN EXTENSION OF LEBRON TO THE STUDENTS IN THE I PROMISE PROGRAM THROUGH THE 330 AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. LJFF SUPPORT FURTHER EXTENDS TO I PROMISE PARENTS THROUGH THE I PROMISE TOO PROGRAM THAT HELPS THEM EARN THEIR GED AND PREPARE FOR THEIR NEXT LIFE CHAPTER. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OTHER EFFORTS IMPORTANT TO OUR WORK TO UPLIFT LEBRON'S HOMETOWN. THIS INCLUDES THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL WE ARE FAMILY REUNION AT CEDAR POINT THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A DAY OF FUN FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AHEAD OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE JAMES FAMILY'S REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH SAVANNAH JAMES' I PROMISE MAKEOVER INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO EMPOWER UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS FROM AKRON AREA HIGH SCHOOLS BY HELPING THEM PREPARE FOR PROM WITH DRESSES, ACCESSORIES, AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION CONITNUED SUPPORTING LEBRON'S ALMA MATER, ST. VINCENT ST. MARY HIGH SCHOOL, IN AKRON, OHIO THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND CO-CURRICULAR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. THE FOUNDATION PLANS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE AND OTHER PARALLEL PROGRAMS THAT UPLIFT AND POSITIVELY IMPACT ITS COMMUNITY YEAR-ROUND.