The ‘King’ has officially added real estate developer to his résumé. According to CNN, Los Angeles Laker LeBron James is renovating a building for transitional housing for families in need at his I Promise School.
James announced that his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, is partnering with Graduate Hotels to launch the I Promise Village, a transitional housing opportunity for families in need. The public school is operated by the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school opened in 2018 and currently has more than 340 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.
The I Promise School announced the plan via Twitter.
The I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels will begin renovations immediately and will be fully operational by the start of the I PROMISE School’s next school year in July 2020. James also announced the renovation of the building through his Twitter account, “Proud of this!!!!! There’s always more to be done when it comes to giving my kids an opportunity to be successful in life. Every barrier we remove can possibly change their family’s life and we’re never going to stop!!”
“Initially, our work was focused on helping these kids earn an education. But we’ve found that it is impossible to help them learn if they are struggling to survive — if they are hungry, if they have no heat in the freezing winter, if they live in fear for their safety,” James expressed to CNN. “We want this place to be their home where they feel safe, supported, and loved, knowing we are right there with them every step of the way as they get back on their feet.”
“The I Promise Village by Graduate Hotels will be a monumental next step for us and LeBron and his Foundation’s commitment to the future of the students and their families,” said Graduate Hotels founder and CEO Ben Weprin in a statement. “It’s humbling to see the change they are affecting on a daily basis and we’re honored to be a part of the journey.”
According to the LeBron James Family Foundation’s website, its mission is to “positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives. We believe that an education and living an active, healthy lifestyle [are] pivotal to the development of children and young adults.”
