Mya Smiley is a student at the University of Akron thanks to an assist from

LeBron James, and she is determined upon graduation to become a social

worker that helps foster kids.

Her education and career path would not have been possible, the sophomore
says, were it not for a scholarship and counseling that she received from the
LeBron James Family Foundation. “He’s life-changing,” Smiley said.

For all his accomplishments on the basketball court — four championships, 19

All-Star Game nominations and an imminent coronation as the NBA’s all-time
leading scorer — it is James’ ambitious pursuits off-the-court that may
ultimately distinguish his legacy from other superstar athletes.

James co-founded a successful media and entertainment company, bought

stakes in storied professional baseball and soccer franchises and, with a big
assist from product endorsements, his net worth is estimated to have grown
above $1 billion. The off-court achievement that James is most proud of, he
says, is working to uplift the lives of people like Smiley in his hometown of
Akron.

Many athletes have excelled in one or more of these areas. But few have
done all of them as well as James, who is closing in on passing Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s career scoring record.

“His goal, I believe, is to have 10% of his wealth go to causes and support
communities, which is an amazing goal,” said Lisa Delpy Neirotti, a professor
of sports management at George Washington University. “I would say he’s
maybe above and beyond others, just on that aspiration alone.”

James is, by any measure, an overwhelming success. And he makes Smiley

— one of the many people in Akron who have received financial support from
his foundation — believe that she can be a success as well.

“If I did not have the LeBron program, I probably wouldn’t have ever gone to
college. I would be living in a not-so-positive environment,” said the 19-year-
old Smiley.

“His ability to help people’s futures,” she added, “is what makes LeBron a
great person.”