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Lebron James: Basketball Star … Hope Creator?

What comes to mind when you first hear the name Lebron James? Big ego, ball-hog, best NBA player? Lebron is hoping you will add a different title to that list: Hope Creator. Lebron and his foundation are partnering with the University of Akron to provide the 1,100 students that are a part of Lebron's program I Promise, with full ride scholarships to the University. Lebron recently said, "As a kid growing up in the inner city and as an African American kid, you don't really think past high school because it's not possible or your family can't support you. For us to be able to do something like this ... it means so much." Although, Lebron said that the cost doesn't matter, ESPN crunched the numbers. For Lebron and his foundation to send 1,100 students to Akron will cost 41.8 million dollars.

Possible Preaching Angle:

This story has two possible preaching angles: (1) positively, it's an example of financial generosity leading to a rich legacy of helping others; (2) negatively, although we can credit Lebron with a good and generous deed and program (and hats off to the man), can any human being or institution really serve as a "Hope Creator"? Isn't there only one source for true and lasting hope?

Source:

Andrew Weber, “LeBron James will pay for more than 1,000 kids to go to college,” SBNation.com (8-14-15)

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