LeBron James’ Game-Worn Shoes Available Through Upper Deck and LeBron James Family Foundation Fundraiser Benefitting Positive Change

100 Percent of Proceeds Support the Foundation’s Transformational I PROMISE School and New I PROMISE Village Initiatives

Donors Receive One Shoe to Display in Their Home or Office and a Personalized Plaque on the I Promise School’s Wall of Shoes

CARLSBAD, Ca. (August 13, 2020) - When basketball icon LeBron James cut the ribbon on the revolutionary I PROMISE School in Akron, Ohio two years ago, he did so with a vision of helping shape the futures of kids and families in his hometown. Upper Deck has proudly supported the school since its inception and is now offering fans a unique opportunity to be a part of positive change through LeBron’s incredible life-altering initiative.

Individuals and businesses can donate by selecting and purchasing one of the rare, size 15 LeBron James game-worn shoes, which comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a special I PROMISE School donor appreciation card. The matching shoe, along with a personalized donor plaque, will become part of history on the iconic ‘Wall of Shoes’ that graces the lobby of the school. All funds raised from sales of the exclusive game-worn shoe collection will go directly to ‘I Promise’ initiatives, including year-round access to the school’s family resource center, community food pantry, unemployment services, legal aid, medical and mental health support, and a GED program for parents. Funds raised will also go towards the new I Promise Village, which fulfills the need for transitional housing that will provide a safe living space for many students and families currently struggling with homelessness.

“This is about more than just getting kids to school. This is about keeping them alive,” said Michele Campbell, Executive Director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “We’re seeing families struggling every day with very real and often unexpected issues that turn their worlds upside down. It’s our mission to listen and learn about those needs and respond with real, meaningful resources that set their entire families up for success. This work is a commitment for a life time, and we know we can’t do it alone.”

Detailed information on the awe-inspiring game-used shoe collection including LeBron’s game stats, date worn, opposing team played and more, can be found on Upper Deck’s Game-Used Shoe Webstore. The collection has something for everyone, from serious memorabilia and shoe collectors to those looking for the ultimate conversation piece to add to their home office or company lobby.

Bubba Watson proudly displays his donation in the form of a ‘Zoom Solider 11’ shoe that King James wore in Game 3 of the 2017 Finals. The shoe has special meaning to the two-time Masters champion winner, since he personally witnessed James tie Magic Johnson for the most triple doubles in Finals history with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists at the game.

“We can see the positive change that LeBron is creating in his hometown, and I am happy to support such an important initiative that continues to impact countless lives in the community,” said Watson.

The school also incorporates trauma-informed practices in education, spending a significant amount of time on much needed social emotional learning for its students. Through fund raising initiatives like the Game-Used Shoe program, the school is able to continue adding needed resources for students and their families year after year, including the most recent addition of a laundry facility and English-as-a-Second-Language classes.

View Upper Deck’s current collection of 1-of-1 game-worn shoes to select your authentic piece of LeBron James memorabilia that will make an impact on the lives of children and families for years to come.

About Upper Deck

Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in authentic sports memorabilia and premium collectibles,is a long-standing supporter of the LeBron James Family Foundation, as well as many other charitable giving programs. The company has been providing authentic and innovative memorabilia for the world’s greatest athletes for over 25 years, including exclusive company spokespeople Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, Serena Williams, Patrick Roy, and Ben Simmons.

Learn more at www.upperdeck.com or at www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (UDAuthenticated), Instagram (UpperDeckEnt and UpperDeckSports), Twitter (@UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (udvids).

About The LeBron James Family Foundation

Recognizing the life-changing importance of education, The LeBron James Family Foundation invests its time, resources and attention in the kids of James’ hometown in Akron, Ohio. Through its I PROMISE Program, the foundation serves more than 1,500 Akron-area students by providing them with the programs, support and mentors they need for success in school and beyond. In 2018, the Foundation partnered with Akron Public Schools to build all of its family-first programming and academic interventions into the groundbreaking I PROMISE School that has created a new model for urban, public education. These life-changing resources, combined with the Foundation’s “We Are Family” philosophy are re-defining what a family and community looks like.