LeBron James and Rihanna’s Continued Contributions to Black History Month and Other Events
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and music icon Rihanna are making waves not just in their respective fields, but also as dedicated philanthropists. February is a busy month for these history-making superstars, who are headlining the Super Bowl halftime show and breaking records on the basketball court, all while running their innovative non-profits.
Rihanna, with 14 number-one singles and an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, remains one of the recording industry’s most popular entertainers. She made history in 2015 as the first artist to reach 100 million digital sales and received the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year award in 2017. In 2021, Rihanna officially reached billionaire status, largely due to her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line.
Born and raised in Barbados, Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in 2012, honoring her grandparents. CLF champions environmental and social justice projects in the United States and the Caribbean, one of the world’s most disaster-prone areas, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The foundation’s climate resilience programs focus on developing emergency preparedness solutions, upgrading infrastructure, and maintaining healthcare accessibility during crises.
“CLF’s goal is for the Caribbean to become the world’s first climate-resilient zone by helping communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters,” says Christine Platt, Director of Communications at CLF. The foundation’s initiatives, like With/Stand, reflect a commitment to global teamwork and have funded programs in over 35 countries and all 50 states, addressing climate justice, disaster response, pandemic relief, education, and racial equity.
“CLF prides itself on focusing its support of climate justice initiatives led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, with 100% of our current Caribbean partners being BIPOC-led. We understand that environmental justice is intricately connected with racial injustice,” Platt emphasizes. During Black History Month, CLF honors climate justice trailblazers like Colonel Charles Young, but their work continues year-round, celebrating and supporting Black environmentalists.
LeBron James, one of the biggest names in professional sports, is the highest-scoring basketball player of all time, with four NBA championship rings, four NBA MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. Named several times to Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People, James became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status through his investments in athletics, dining, real estate, and media.
In 2004, James founded The LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF), which has served over 1,600 public school students and their families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The LJFF’s marquee I PROMISE program, launched in 2011, identifies and supports third graders at risk of falling behind in school. In 2018, the LJFF opened its I PROMISE School for grades three through eight, offering a longer school day, a STEM-focused curriculum, and a family-focused culture. The school extends its support beyond the classroom with services like medical care, legal aid, financial literacy classes, and a food pantry.
Students in the program can earn four-year scholarships to the University of Akron or Kent State University, while two-year scholarships are available to Stark State College, including opportunities for program parents and guardians. Nearly a hundred students from the original class are attending college, and the foundation has helped 25 I PROMISE parents earn their GEDs.
The LJFF is also expanding into housing. In 2020, it opened the I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels, providing rent-free transitional lodging for 15 students and their families in immediate need of safe, stable shelter. By early next year, 50 new affordable multi-bedroom apartments will be available to program families when I PROMISE Housing opens.
Community is central to LJFF’s mission. I PROMISE families meet monthly to share a meal and conversation. Soon, they’ll have a new venue: House Three Thirty, a multi-use community space and resource center, scheduled to open next month.
One annual highlight is the field trip and “family reunion” at Cedar Point hosted by James every August to kick off the new school year. An LJFF spokesperson says, “The Foundation’s hands-on work and resources are ‘always on,’ activating 365 days a year and continuously finding unique ways to connect with our students and families year-round.”
With their relentless drive, both Rihanna and LeBron James continue to make significant impacts in their fields and communities, embodying resilience, success, and philanthropy.
