|  NBA
star LeBron James joined fifth graders from PS 116 Elementary
School in Manhattan on January 28, 2005 for a “PE2GO
workout” to celebrate the programs expansion into six
new schools.
James met with students in the schools gym and answered questions
from the events MC Greg Anthony, former basketball player
for the New York Knicks, who currently works as a sports analysis
on ESPN and ABC.
After the meet and greet session, the children played a little
bit of ball with the All-Star. Due to the sprained ankle injury
James received the night before during a game he wasn’t
able to play active basketball with the kids but did shoot
around.
James even challenged one fifth grader, Andre Bruno, to score
two free throws in a row and promised that if he made them
he would give the entire fifth grade class a pair of his new
sneakers. Bruno met the challenge and left the kids ecstatic.
“It feels great!” said Bruno.
James personnel told the students the shoes would be shipped
to them and they would be receiving them in a few weeks.
After more fun and games James said good-bye to the kids.
James helped NikeGO launch the PE2GO in his hometown of Akron,
Ohio in 2003. The programs goal is to increase the quality
and quantity of physical education programs in elementary
schools across the country. The program has reached more than
6,400 fourth and fifth graders in 43 public elementary schools
nationally.
“I believe that physical education classes are an important
building block for kids who want to be successful in school
and eventually a career. Exercise builds self confidence and
better health, which I believe are two important factors in
being successful,” said James. “I have seen the
statistics and physically active kids are more attentive in
school and that normally leads to better grades.”
Ten-year-old Erica Abrajan said, “I was excited meeting
him. I had fun.”
“Initially, we were excited to have LeBron be part of
such an important program, but his commitment to changing
how people value physical education classes has been astonishing,”
said Molly White, Nike’s Director of Community Affairs.
“He isn’t an athlete who is the face of a program;
he is dedicated to changing policy and changing the lives
of elementary kids everywhere.”
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