LeBron James Shows Heart: Selling Game-Worn Sneakers Online to Support Schools

Upper Deck and LeBron James are collaborating to sell his game-worn footwear online. It is a component of a fundraising initiative for the I Promise School, which James established as a public elementary school in Akron, Ohio.

Upper Deck’s online store, which presently offers 97 shoes for purchase, charges between $15,000 and $30,000 per shoe. Since the inception of the initiative two years ago, when 114 footwear were initially made available, the remaining ones are now available for purchase online. A certificate of authenticity and a personalized donor plaque are included with each purchase.

Each pair’s corresponding shoe will be affixed to a “wall of shoes” in the school entryway.

According to the James’ foundation, the entire sale proceeds will be donated to the school’s various initiatives, which include “constant access to the family resource center, community food pantry, unemployment services, legal aid, medical and mental health support, and a GED program for parents throughout the year.”

“More is involved than simply transporting children to school.” In a press release, Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, stated, “This is about preserving their lives.”

“On a daily basis, we observe families contending with extremely real and frequently unforeseen challenges that upend their entire existence. Our mission is to attentively listen, gain an understanding of their requirements, and provide them with practical, beneficial resources that position their families for achievement. “This is a lifelong commitment, and we are well aware that we cannot accomplish it alone.”

In 2018, the initiative received support from Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, through a successful proposal of $30,000 on Nike Zoom Lebron Soldier 11 shoes that Lebron James donned during the 2017 Finals.

Watson stated that having witnessed the game in which James tied Magic Johnson for the most triple doubles in Finals history, the shoe holds a special place in his heart.

Watson stated in a press release, “We can see the positive change that LeBron is bringing to his hometown, and I am pleased to support such an important initiative that continues to affect countless lives in the community.”

The three-time NBA champion has long advocated for educational reform in his native city. James, who was raised in Akron, Ohio, by a single mother, attributes his success to his community and has vowed to give back. Since its establishment in 2018, the I Promise School has furnished over 1,500 students from the Akron area with the “mentors, programs, and support they require to achieve academic and personal success.”