Thanks to a $1 million grant, at-risk youth attending the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, now have a better chance of achieving greatness, much like LeBron James. The NBA star presented students in his hometown with a check from the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation to fund the construction of a new gym.

The LeBron James Family Foundation established the I Promise School in 2018, catering to students from first through eighth grade. The school’s curriculum includes a strong emphasis on physical education to help students stay on track academically and reach their full potential.

“Sport coaches, working in partnership with other educators, can help students develop as well-rounded individuals who are physically fit and healthy, have a moral compass to guide their lives, and the capacity to improve their communities,” said Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of Practice in International Education at Harvard University, in an interview with Global Citizen.

The Dick’s Sports Matter program offers grants and additional support to help youth participate in sports, specifically targeting low-income communities and high-poverty schools. James announced the donation at the gym of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, which he shared with the audience was his favorite place to visit after the school year ended.

“To my kids, this is more than just a gym. The DICK’S Sports Matter program is helping us offer even more opportunities,” James stated on Friday, as reported by CBS News. “I believe the sky is the limit for these kids, and the progress we’re seeing is just the beginning.”

Children living in poverty, who are more susceptible to health issues like obesity, are the most affected by the lack of physical education and sports programs. Schools utilize gyms for after-school sports, which are known to enhance academic performance and attendance, but many struggle to fund physical education during school hours. According to the Society of Health and Physical Educators, the median budget for physical education in US schools is only $764 per year.

The Women’s Sports Foundation notes that student-athletes are 74% more likely than non-athletes to aim for college graduation. Consequently, children from low-income families often miss out on exercise if they lack resources both at home and at school.

Reimers hopes that the announcement from Dick’s Sports Matter will inspire others to push for increased funding for physical education.

“It serves as an example for others to support schools in obtaining the necessary resources to develop the full range of skills students need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”