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LeBron James made a nasty decision to leave Cleveland last year and caused an outrage of Cleveland and Nationwide Basketball fans to be upset with him. They were especially upset about the way Lebron handled the decision to leave. Lebron Broadcast “The Decision” to millions of viewers.

However cruel you may have thought Lebron James went about it, he donated 3 Million Dollars of the proceeds from that show to help organizations and kids all around the country. One of those donations went to the Akron Boys and Girls Club.

Akron native and a longtime supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) LeBron James visited with hundreds of screaming youngsters in Akron, OH recently to open a Boys & Girls Club renamed after the NBA super star.

In a sparkling new facility complete with a state-of-the-art tech center . Unlike the adults. the kids playing basketball on the new floors of the muliple facilities around the country that Lebron helped renovate had much better things to say about LeBron:

“I think he deserves to get a ring,” said LaBron Sanford, 14. “He just went to a better team.”
Dave Archibold, 15, echoed LaBron’s sentiments. And he’s happy with James’ gift. “This is a good floor,” he said. “I’ll remember him for that.”

The LeBron James Boys & Girls Club was made possible by a $240,000 grant from the LeBron James Family Foundation, part of the $3 million donated nationwide to support more than 50 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.

BGC Vice President Frank Sanchez said: We are extremely excited about establishing a Boys & Girls Clubs named after LeBron because he has been such a positive role for young people everywhere, especially in his hometown of Akron.”

Lebron reflected on his past as he sat in a gym that he and his friends were once afraid to enter:

“We were afraid to visit as kids. I remember coming through the front doors here. It was an intimidating real dark place. It’s unbelievable as a kid, this is one of the places we didn’t want to go. But to see the transformation from what this place used to be to what it is now is amazing, and the only reason we’re doing it is for these kids. They are our future.”

This new facility provides a safe environment for more than 125 children and teens after school and during the critical out-of-school time when young people are more at risk. “I wanted to give the young people of Akron the opportunity for a great future, a place where they can find the help and support they need to close the academic achievement gap and learn the importance of good character,” said James.

The new LeBron James Boys & Girls Club which is located inside the Joy Park Community Center in East Akron is a direct result of a gift made by James and a partnership with the City of Akron with additional support provided by HP and Nike.

The Boys & Girls club was a big part of my life growing up. I got to see experience and do many things that I would otherwise have not had the opportunity to do. I still remember the guy who directed the club in the Hillside Projects – Skip Robinson. Skip was the coolest. I have so many funny stories about the things he used to do for us kids back then. I think he works for the Milwaukee Bucks now.The Boys & Girls Club is a awesome place to donate to. The funds actually help thousands of kids get access to needed resources.

Adults may still be a bit upset with LeBron but at the end of the day the kids love him because what he is doing for them..  In my opinion that is “The Decision” that matters the most. Humbleness is not about verbally saying nice things to please people. It’s about reaching out to help and do for others. It’s about giving back and making people smile.

Source – ESPN