LeBron James Foundation Reward’s Free Tuition to Students
February 21, 2020
Last week, the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) and Kent State University announced that the inaugural class of the I PROMISE program in Akron, Ohio will receive free tuition. For the 193 junior high school students to receive the donation, they must be accepted into the university, fill out required financial aid forms and have completed a required number of community service hours each semester.
"We have so many options, and I just know that so many kids in my community just don't have many options," LeBron James said. "So for me to be able to be in a position where I can give these kids options to decide what they want to do with their future, it's probably the best thing I've ever done."
The free tuition program was born out of an existing partnership between Kent State and the LJFF in which I PROMISE students attend summer enrichment college preparation programs at the university. James', I PROMISE program helps to mentor students across Akron with college and career prep.
The students, who were visiting the Kent State campush, learned about the tuition through surprise envelopes underneath their chairs, which said: "Kent State guarantees your tuition free for four years! You will also receive free room and meal plan for your first year."
“We are so pleased to take our partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation to this next level and welcome these students fully into the Kent State family,” Kent State President Todd Diacon said.
“We have already seen the impressive results that the I PROMISE Network is having on its participating students,” Interim Senior Vice President, Melody Tankersley said. “We are so pleased that Kent State will become the next step in the educational journey of these amazing young people, and so happy that we can start them on their way to exciting careers and lives full of inspiration.”
Part of the free tuition program may include work-study jobs on campus, which will give the students a true “sweat equity” stake in their education, she said. The free tuition guarantee includes no loans that would have to be repaid
James opened the I PROMISE school in 2018 with the goal of helping kids who were at risk of falling behind. His LeBron James Family Foundation was a top donor to the public school, which first opened its doors to elementary-age students with plans to expand and let in third grade through eighth-grade children.
“The I PROMISE program is built on the ‘earned, not given’ philosophy. We are so excited that our students that have worked incredibly hard have earned even more life-changing opportunities to grow and excel,” said Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “We are so thankful to the entire Kent State family for believing in our students and providing exactly the type of programming and support they need to be successful not only in school but in life.”