Displaying items by tag: I Promise

LeBron James, the Kid from Akron, is the man behind the "I PROMISE" program, which he started back in 2011 in an effort to reduce the number of high school students dropping out of school. Since then, the "I PROMISE" program has partnered with University of Akron, helping kids, from a young age, stay on their path of education.

Now, LeBron is the face of a new digital marketing campaign, courtesy of "I PROMISE" and UA. 

See the press release from the University of Akron below for more details:  

The University of Akron’s (UA) latest videos in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) feature Akron native and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, along with aspiring students in his I PROMISE program and current UA students. The videos highlighting the benefits of a college education at UA are launching today via digital media in several markets in Ohio and elsewhere.

“It’s all about sparking hope and fulfilling dreams for my I PROMISE kids,” says James in the videos’ introduction. With a focus on stemming the high school dropout rates in his hometown of Akron, James started the I PROMISE program in 2011.

His foundation recently brought several I PROMISE students—some who are now high school freshmen—to the University to talk with current UA students. The resulting series of videos capture UA students mentoring the high schoolers for an afternoon, sharing their college experience, visiting labs and classrooms, and meeting professors. After the mentoring experience, the group came together at the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education to meet with James and share their dreams and goals with him.

“The University of Akron expresses its profound thanks to LeBron and the LeBron James Family Foundation for their partnership with the University,” said UA President Matthew J. Wilson. “The engagement seen in the videos between the I PROMISE and UA students is genuine and powerful.”

The full-length video runs just under two-minutes. Six I PROMISE students are also spotlighted in shorter videos, paired with UA students in their area of interest. The featured I PROMISE students include Jayden, paired with UA student and computer whiz Spencer Csasky, who is majoring in cybersecurity. Another showcased I PROMISE student is Julia, set to graduate from high school in 2022. She met with UA student Drake Smalley, who shared his co-op experience building orthopedic implants.

The videos are an integral part of UA’s fall student recruitment campaign, which is primarily digital media based but will also include some television broadcast and other media. The videos will target Northeast Ohio as well as markets including Erie, PA, Pittsburgh and suburban Chicago.

The full-length video is available at uakron.edu/discover. The individual student videos are at uakron.edu/stories.

A two-time NBA champion and the wife of the most powerful man in the country sure do know how to make an impact. 

Thousands of students involved in LeBron James' "Wheels For Eduction" and "I Promise" programs and their families packed the James A. Rhodes arena on the University of Akron campus Wednesday afternoon to take a pledge to complete their education.

The Cavaliers star, who recently announced that he has partnered with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for students in the LeBron James Family Foundation who graduate high school, wants everyone to get involved with investing in the future of our youth.

"I want each and every one of you, not just the kids, but also the parents and the teachers and the mentors and whoever is around these kids every single day, to understand that we are family and we are going to continue to look after each other on becoming as great as we can be," he said.

LeBron even brought a special guest with him to his hometown . First Lady Michelle Obama told the kids that she and LeBron are no strangers to overcoming obstacles at a young age.

"We were kids just like you, and we didn't come from places where families had a lot of money and a lot of resources," said Obama. "We know how amazing you all are and the things that you can do with your lives because we're standing here, and if we can be here we know you can too."

Obama also illustrated the importance of higher education.

"Imagine yourself succeeding here and walking across the stage and getting your college diploma," she said. "Start envisioning that for yourself now, because you all have to get an education beyond high school. You have to."

A new social media campaign, known as "Better Make Room", was introduced by Obama to allow children to share their dreams and aspirations with others all around the world.

The event concluded with both LeBron and The First Lady reciting the "I Promise Pledge" with the crowd, asking them to accept the challenge to finish school.

The First Lady will be in Akron next week alongside LeBron James.

Northeast Ohio Media Group reports that Michelle Obama will join LeBron at a University of Akron event next Wednesday for students and parents involved in his "Wheels For Education" and "I Promise" programs.

The early word comes from a White House advisory, and more details on the Michelle Obama trip will come out in the coming days.

The First Lady has her own "Reach Higher" initiative, designed to encourage students to expand their education after high school.

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On the Web: Northeast Ohio Media Group, www.cleveland.com