LeBron James' charitable foundation is reportedly set to announce a new 60,000-square-foot community hub in the NBA superstar's hometown of Akron, Ohio, the latest step in a long-running philanthropic undertaking that began nearly a decade ago.
The LeBron James Family Foundation on Tuesday was set to unveil plans for the venue, dubbed House Three Thirty in honor of the city's area code, according to Time.
The community center was designed specifically to address the needs of families whose children are enrolled in James' I Promise School, and is also open to all members of the Akron community.
Around 450 children, grades 3-6, are presently enrolled in the school, which was launched in 2018.
Last summer, an Akron apartment building was repurposed as a transitional housing complex for students whose families were struggling with homelessness. The project was named I Promise Village.
The community center comes as an offshoot of the village, and is meant to provide job training, dining areas, and recreational spaces for residents.
“House Three Thirty is going to be a sanctuary for our families,” James said. “It’s going to be a place where all our families can grow and learn. This will be a hub for everything possible our families will need.”
On social media, James said "this is what redefining what community looks like."
The foundation was eyeing a 2022 launch for the center, the report said. In a separate post on social media, the organization appeared to tease another housing project for that year.
James' charitable work with Akron schools dates back to at least 2012, when he launched the Wheels for Education program, meant to increase high school graduation rates.