Rise from High School to NBA Champion
LeBron James is currently an American basketball athlete playing for Los Angeles Lakers. The rise of LeBron to NBA stardom draws inspiration due to the struggles he faced while growing up in Akron town. LeBron was born on December 30th, 1984, and in his early stages of life, he was enlisted by St. Vincent-St. Mary High school as a member of their basketball team. From the start of his life, the odds never favored him. James was born in poverty to a teenage mother who could not afford the basics of life. His early basketball coach played a crucial role in the success of James LeBron in basketball and life in general.
As a freshman in high school, he generated a lot of excitement around the quality of his play. At the height of 6’5, he led his high school team to multiple victories while setting new records. James first attracted national attention as the topmost high school basketball player thought the country. His stature, natural athleticism, passing and shot abilities, and range of vision at the basketball court partially contributed (Green). James established his career with unlimited potential to become a national hero and a star. His coaches touted him as a generational talent that would shine in NBA post-college.
LeBron won multiple trophies in various divisions at his high school before joining NBA. Entry into NBA from high school was much restricted based on age, where initially, one had to attain a minimum age of 19, which later turned to 20. A year of college basketball was also conditioned to progress to the NBA. LeBron became an instantaneous star after skipping college to join Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA. He went on to become a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player. LeBron became a key figure for Miami Heat winning titles in 2012/2013. He later returned to his former team Cleveland and helped it clinch its first championship in the year 2016.
Charitable Causes in his Life and Giving Back to the Society
LeBron James is a standout philanthropist. LeBron established a family foundation named after him which donated money to charitable organizations. The first charitable organization is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. LeBron set $2.5 million to the club for equal childhood opportunities and provided mentorship and other activities after school. LeBron and his wife re-innovated the Miami club and donated new computers throughout America. Children’s Defense Fund is the second charitable non-profitable organization that LeBron is heavily involved in as a sponsor. The organization’s goal was to identify children at risk from low socioeconomic backgrounds and support them throughout their academic journey.
The third is the After-School All-Stars, started by LeBron Foundation. This is an initiative that LeBron started in Akron. This is a foundation with a core goal of raising money and creating a donation fund for charity work (Cottom). It facilitated the education and shelter of the children in Akron and identified the risky children for further assistance. It also incorporates mentorship and extracurricular activities among the children with the critical goal of encouraging them children to graduate. LeBron’s Foundation has raised approximately $45 million and above in support of the program. He has also created a partnership with the University of Akron to provide scholarships and has plans to expand the program all over Ohio.
In honor of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, LeBron donated over $2.5 million to an exhibit at the Museum of African American History. The exhibit: ‘Muhammad Ali: A Forced for Change’ celebrated the flittering boxing career of Muhammad and the social activism he possessed. LeBron drew inspiration from Ali’s goals, passion, and morals in the civil rights movement period. Lastly, ONEXONE is an initiative that supports children under five pillars: health, education, hunger, clean water for use, and co-curricular play. Like other charitable causes of James, he immensely gives back to children as the foundations of society. LeBron’s Foundation is a significant donator to ONEXONE. His desire to support children is drawn from the humble beginning that he started from, and he acknowledges the support he got from his mother and the former coach. The humanitarian spirit of LeBron encourages the give-back spirit of LeBron back to the community as an inspiration to the upcoming generation. Taco Tuesdays providing meals to students and other provisions during the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the notable give back to the community instances by LeBron James.
Charity to Support in the Future
Drug Addiction is a leading public health concern in the United States. On top of the list of drugs causing havoc, it includes methamphetamine, fentanyl, opioids, heroin, alcohol, marijuana, and many others. The impact of addiction leads to homelessness, mental health conditions such as substance-induced psychosis that increases the risk of gun violence, and debilitating physical conditions that are a burden to taxpayers. My Foundation will focus on managing the impacts of addiction while advocating for the slowing of dependence among drug users. I will channel funds to creating adequate rehabilitation facilities for addicts, psychiatric centers for drug-induced disorders, and even creating harm reduction centers such as safe injection sites for addiction. An enhanced combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy will boost the recovery rates of addicts. I will also offer a post-recovery roadmap that will give the addicts a better second chance and reduce instances of relapsing.
Works Cited
Cottom, T. “LeBron James Family Foundation has big plans to revamp the building at 400 W. Market St. for I Promise School”. Akron Beacon Journal. 2018. Web.
Green, M. LeBron James is the greatest living athlete (and here’s why). GQ. 2017.