ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on
its ongoing partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation,
The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) today announced a
$1 million commitment toward the
development of the I PROMISE School's HomeTown Hall. Reflecting the
Foundation's "We Are Family" philosophy, the HomeTown Hall will
provide a space for students' continued development while
encouraging family and community engagement.
With the positive impact that physical activity and sports can
have on students' educational performance and personal development,
the new facility offers a safe, innovative space for play and
learning. In addition, the HomeTown Hall will host school-wide
assemblies and other I PROMISE family experiences, including a
monthly dinner for I PROMISE School families celebrating the
importance of shared meals and togetherness.
"The J. M. Smucker Company's support has allowed our students
and our families to thrive in ways we never dreamed possible," said
Michele Campbell, Executive Director
of the LeBron James Family Foundation. "With their commitment, the
HomeTown Hall will become an incredible, state-of-the-art gathering
space that will bring our students and families together as we
continue to help them along their journeys."
The I PROMISE School, a public elementary school created in
partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation and
Akron Public Schools, serves
Akron's most challenged students
and their families with the care and resources they need on the
path to a better future.
In support of its philosophy that education starts at home and
family is foundational to the development of each student, the
school also offers a Family Resource Wing dedicated to providing
wraparound support. This includes opportunities for GED
preparation; medical, dental and vision care; legal services;
financial literacy programming; job and family services; a fully
stocked food pantry; and on-site laundry facilities.
Smucker has supported the LeBron James Family Foundation and its
work with the I PROMISE School since it opened, when more than 200
of the Company's employees volunteered their time to help transform
an administrative building into the innovative educational
environment students now enjoy. In addition, Smucker has helped
supply the school's on-site food pantry and donated funds to the
school's library, among other efforts.
The HomeTown Hall initiative is an exciting extension of the
Smucker relationship with the LeBron James Family Foundation as
well as a reflection of its continued efforts to support families
and children.
"Through their work at the I PROMISE School, the LeBron James
Family Foundation has created an innovative and promising new model
for supporting students and families who have traditionally been
challenging to reach," said Jill
Penrose, Chief People and Administrative Officer, The J. M.
Smucker Company. "Our passion for supporting families and children
has always been a core value of our Company. And the opportunity to
play a role in the continued development of this important
institution, and the positive impact it has on students, families
and the community; supports our purpose: Feeding Connections That
Help Us Thrive – Life Tastes Better Together."
Construction of the HomeTown Hall is tentatively scheduled to
begin this year.
About The J. M. Smucker Company
Inspired by more than
120 years of business success and five generations of family
leadership, The J. M. Smucker Company makes food that people and
pets love. The Company's portfolio of 40+ brands, which are found
in 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants, include
iconic products consumers have always loved such as Folgers®,
Jif® and Milk-Bone® plus new favorites like Café
Bustelo®, Smucker's® Uncrustables® and Rachael Ray™
Nutrish®. Over the past two decades, the Company has grown
rapidly by thoughtfully acquiring leading and emerging brands,
while ensuring the business has a positive impact on its 7,000+
employees, the communities it is a part of and the planet. For more
information about The J. M. Smucker Company, visit
jmsmucker.com.
The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all
trademarks referenced herein except for Rachael
Ray®, a registered trademark of Ray Marks Co. LLC,
which is used under license.
About the LeBron James Family Foundation and the I PROMISE
School
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 1,400 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.
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SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company