LeBron James Family Foundation To Build I Promise Institute At InfoCision Stadium

Since the Kyrie Irving trade is going to dominate local media for the time being, I might have waited a week or two to announce this decision. However, it was announced today just the same. According to this article from Cleveland.com, The LeBron James Family Foundation is renovating space on the third floor of the InfoCision Stadium. The purpose is to house the I Promise Institute. They run a program that is basically there to pay for Akron kids to go to the University of Akron, provided they meet certain, as yet undetermined, guidelines. What I love about this program is that it includes grades, attendance, and community service as part of the criteria for receiving the award.

The Foundation said this program will include at least 9 classes of secondary and elementary school kids. My hope is that it becomes a permanent fixture at Akron and a model for other programs around the MAC and the country. Living in Columbus, I have seen many athletes develop strong local ties to the community and the lasting effects those can have on kids.

Sprite is partially funding this project, which has been working with the foundation since 2003.