The side door to the newly refurbished gym opened, a blast of sunlight splashed into the darkened corner, and 100 children began shrieking in unison. LeBron James was thrilled. ”It never gets old,” James said. That was the reception Wednesday when the LeBron James Family Foundation and Hewlett-Packard began rolling out what will soon be 1,000 new computers to 59 different Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. At the Miami club, the roof is getting replaced and workspaces for kids are being spruced up with furniture from the HomeCourt line that James designs with girlfriend Savannah Brinson.
It’s all part of the commitment James made last summer, when his hourlong “The Decision” special on July 8, 2010 — in which he said he was joining the Miami Heat — raised more than $3 million for charity. “I know a lot comes with being a professional athlete,” James said in an interview with The Associated Press. “That’s also being a role model to a lot of kids that look up to me. This automatically comes with it. And I have nothing but time for kids. I could easily be at home and just relaxing. … But the opportunity to be here and giving back to these kids, I’m happy to do it.” James mingled with the kids for a while after a short ceremony, checking out the new computers — loaded with many of the newest bells and whistles — and posing for photos. One girl won a contest to have her bedroom redesigned by James and Brinson, and outside, people waited with their cell-phone cameras poised in hopes of catching a brief glimpse of the NBA’s two-time MVP. At one of the busiest stages of the NBA season, James said he welcomed the idea of taking an afternoon away from basketball. “Kids are a huge passion of mine,” James said. “I always said when I was growing up, ‘If I ever have an opportunity, if I ever got big enough, whatever the case may be, I will always try to give back as much as possible.’” - AP
No comments:
Post a Comment