NBA star LeBron James will be the special guest Friday night at the annual fundraiser for St. HOPE, the non-profit organization founded by Mayor Kevin Johnson that operates charter schools in Oak Park.
James, a three-time NBA MVP, will be in town as his Miami Heat play the Kings on Saturday.
Johnson, himself a former NBA star, caused a little stir over the weekend when he tweeted that he was looking forward to James' visit and told followers to "stay tuned for a special announcement." A few Kings fans - apparently desperate for any news regarding the progress (or lack thereof) on a new arena - hit the Twitter waves pleading for more information.
The theme of the St. HOPE fundraiser will be "honoring St. HOPE's commitment to providing arts education to its students and the surrounding Oak Park community," according to the organization's website.
Besides his NBA resume, James also has a background in philanthropy and education. He founded the LeBron James Family Foundation, a charity in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, that encourages kids to stay in school and stay physically fit. He also runs a program called Wheels for Education that works with kids in Akron deemed "at-risk" by the school district, connecting them with after-school programs and urging them to not miss school days.








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