Since its monumental inception, LeBron James’ I Promise Program has maintained its commitment to serve at-risk youth and their parents, in an effort to make everyone “be the best they can be in everything they do.”
Created in 2011, James refocused his LeBron James Family Foundation efforts on education to launch the new initiative, and just seven years later, he opened the iPromise School in Akron, OH, to further his commitment. In turn, the IPS students exceeded expectations, with 90 percent of its students recaching or exceeding their expected growth in math and reading within the first year.
Now, in honor of the success and inspiration behind the longstanding program, James has written a children’s book based on the values and promises of his Foundation’s I Promise Program. According to the book’s publisher, the program’s values focus on the idea that “tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.”
“Books have the ability to teach, inspire and bring people together,” James said in a statement. “That’s why these books, and the opportunity to get children and parents reading together, mean so much to me. Most importantly, we wanted to make sure these stories are ones that every single kid can see themselves in. ‘I PROMISE’ is powerful in that way, and I can’t wait for people to read it.”
James’ first-ever children’s book, I Promise, is set to be released on August 11 and is part of a two-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers, which also includes an intermediate level novel in 2021.
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Our own children’s book⁉️ What!! @ljfamfoundation @ipromiseschool Man, the beauty of this is the process in how we got here. Never settling no matter the opportunities or chapters we add to this journey and now we get to share our promise and our story with kids and families everywhere. I can’t wait for everyone to read this, share this, feel empowered, and strive for greatness the same way my kids from Akron do every day. ?? Middle school edition next. ? ? @harpercollins
