He’s a native of Northeast Ohio, but that’s only the beginning of the story. LeBron James is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. His rare athletic gifts were summed up by an ESPN writer as possessing “the ballhandling skills and court vision of Magic Johnson, the size of Larry Bird. … the elevation and balance of (Michael) Jordan, the open-court speed of Isiah Thomas but the power of Charles Barkley.”
While that power refers to what happens on the hardwood, LeBron is acutely aware of how to use his star power to do well in the community as he builds a legacy.LeBron, who grew up in public housing in a single-parent home in Akron, serves as a role model. He is as unselfish with his philanthropy as he is on the basketball court.
He is showing a new generation of Clevelanders what it means to not only be from here, but to stay, live, work and raise a family here, says David Gilbert, CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. He is reinforcing the strength of the community.
The crowning jewel of LeBron’s philanthropic efforts is the LeBron James Family Foundation, which focuses on elementary school children, helping to ensure they get a good start in life.Many times he has told the news media he wants to make an impact that will last long after his basketball career is over.“That’s part of my whole plan,” he told a reporter last year.
“I wanted to do something that (Akron youths) would be empowered by, that was going to be sustainable, something that would last for generations.”
