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LeBron James likely would have been in the running for NBA end-of-season awards if the league weren’t currently suspended. Even so, James is still being recognized for his work on and off the court.
The Lakers superstar earned favorite male sports star at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Saturday, beating out a loaded field including Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrick Mahomes, Shaun White, Tom Brady, and Stephen Curry.
More importantly, James was the recipient of the Generation Change Award at the virtual awards ceremony. The award honors James’ commitment to education through the I Promise school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, as well as the over-arching philanthropic work of the LeBron James Family Foundation. James’ goal has always been to insure that the next generation of kids in his home state has better opportunities than the ones he did.
James accepted the award remotely from his home in southern California, and please check out that quarantine beard.
Once again thank you guys so much for this! This awards is headed to Akron inside the @IPROMISESchool. Dedicated to all my kids and kids all over the world needing any inspiration at this moment and in the future. ❤️ https://t.co/qpePyAJ9PA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 3, 2020
The pride on James’ face is evident every time he speaks about the I Promise School:
“To win this award, it’s an honor to be awarded the Generation Change Award. It means a lot to myself, to my family, fans, and also to my kids at my school back in Akron, Ohio. Thank you guys so much.”
James’ passion for education is also evident in his next project, a virtual graduation event for current high school seniors. The LeBron James Family Foundation is hosting “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020” on Saturday, May 16 to celebrate the students who won’t be able to walk across a stage and collect their diplomas. He has enlisted the participation of multiple celebrities in the event, including Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and Malala Yousafzai.
While the country remains quarantined during the pandemic, James never stops being a force for good in whatever capacity possible. He may be itching to get back on the basketball court, but James knows that he has the ability to make an impact in so many other ways.
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