Lebron James is a household name and a bonafide NBA legend. Not only is he a superstar in the game, but he’s also a stand-up guy as evidenced by his recent charity work. Read on below to find out how 1,000 people’s lives have been changed forever because of his kindness. You won’t believe it!

Lebron Grew Up In Circumstances Similar To The Kids He’s Trying To Help

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, James had a less than ideal childhood, as many in the area can relate to. He caught a break when he was welcomed into the home of Frank Walker, a youth football coach that lived in the area. While living with Walker, Lebron developed a love for basketball.

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James has always been charitable, but his recent donation of over $41.8 million to his “I Promise” program has taken his charity game to a new level. He’s now the world’s sixth most charitable athlete while generously supporting the children growing up in his community. His donation will go towards helping over 1,100 kids from Ohio get a four-year university scholarship.

A Happy Marriage Between The Lebron James Family Foundation and The University of Akron

In partnership with the University of Akron, James helped create a scholarship worth $9,500 per year. That will cover the university’s service fee as well as full tuition. “It’s the reason I do what I do,” said Lebron James when asked to comment on the charity. “These students have big dreams, and I’m happy to do everything I can to help them get there.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers star is responsible for The Lebron James Family Foundation which focuses primarily on helping kids of lesser means get an education.

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The structure of exactly how the scholarship will work and who will qualify is still being developed, but it will most likely be aimed towards students that are graduating high school from Akron’s public school system. They’ll likely be required to have met set testing requirements to qualify for the program, and there will likely be an obligatory community service component that eligible students will need to complete.

It’s Time To Think Past High School

“They’re going to have to earn it, but I’m excited to see what these kids can accomplish knowing that college is in their future,” said Lebron. He went on to speak extensively about his own experience, stating that “as a kid growing up in the inner city and a lot of African-American kids, you don’t really think past high school.”

His goal is to help expand the horizons of young people in a situation like that, helping them to envision a life where they can not only graduate high school but also college. With the help of his “I Promise” program and in partnership with the University of Akron, that dream is much closer to a reality for many students!

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