LeBron James traveled more than 1,200 miles to his hometown of Akron Wednesday to read some Dr. Seuss.
The children at Mason Community Center huddled closely to the colossal Miami Heat basketball player with rapt attention as he read “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” a giant version of the book perched behind him. Filled with fitting messages for students and the star athlete, the book outlines winning and losing, and how success will inevitably include highs and lows.
“These kids are my passion,” said James, who visited the school on East Exchange Street as part of his Wheels for Education program, in conjunction with the LeBron James Family Foundation. “That’s why I continue to give back.”
A new iteration of the local Bikeathon from years past, Wheels for Education aims at keeping students in school and follows their progress over the long term.
The program offers 360 students a two-week educational camp with extensive reading intervention and technology classes to help align them with current academic standards, and upon completion of the camp, students receive an HP laptop, a Nike backpack filled with essential third-grade school supplies and a bicycle.
Older students in the system serve as ambassadors for these younger children and provide mentorships for the third-graders.
The partner organizations -- like James’ Foundation, HP and State Farm -- along with the Akron After School program “make sure that you’re supported and that you’re going to be successful into 2021 when you graduate and move on to college, and I want to see that from each and every one of you,” said Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James to the students in attendance.
Despite his departure to Miami to play basketball, James continues to do a lot for the city, said Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville. “He helps us in so many ways.”
From improving community centers and basketball facilities to giving away bicycles and turkeys, “he represents Akron well,” added Sommerville. “There’s been a lot of criticism for him leaving, but you need to realize, he never really left; he’s always here, trying to make Akron better.”
For more information, visit http://www.lebronjames.com/en/Community/Causes/Wheels-for-Education-release.aspx.
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