Holiday Champions
When you meet our partners, it’s easy to understand why we believe we can change the world. And the more time you spend with them, the more feasible that concept becomes. While the holidays are seen as a season of giving, our long-term partnerships and year-round programs make the season merely part of this greater whole.
Continuing a three-year-old tradition, the Foundation teamed up with Little Tikes to deliver 5,500 brand new Little Tikes toys to Akron Public School (APS) pre-K – second grade students. All across the district, students were surprised by Santa and his elves from Little Tikes, Goodyear, Two Men & A Truck Akron, APS, Thomas Limousine, Swensons, and Piada too, just in time for their holiday break. Often not knowing they were headed for a magical meeting with the "big man" himself, students greeted their shiny new toys with a sense of profound disbelief.
The Foundation and its partners kept Santa busy. In addition to the Little Tikes donation, East Ohio Chase Bankers adopted five I Promise families for the holidays, showering them with gifts. And in between delivering toys to schools and homes, Santa made stops with his Akron neighbor, the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center, to deliver the gift of good news to I Promise families.
Equipped with a sleigh full of goodies and an army of Crystal Clinic elves, Santa, team LJFF and its new partners at Crystal Clinic went dashing through the snow to spread word of their new partnership. Together, they delivered the best Christmas gift of all – news of convenient access to critical orthopaedic and healthcare services as well as other resources for LeBron’s I Promise students and their entire families.
As part of its partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation announced Wednesday, Crystal Clinic’s staff will provide monthly healthcare clinics and critical preventative education for all I Promise families, annual student-athlete physicals and expedited access to primary care for I Promise School students, and athletic trainers for all LJFF-sanctioned sporting events. Additionally, Crystal Clinic will host LJFF’s 10th grade experience outing exposing students to career opportunities in the medical field.
"We are so excited for the opportunity to join forces with the LeBron James Family Foundation. We are not only planning on enhancing and expediting the healthcare for these families but also exposing these kids to the many opportunities for careers in the healthcare field," said Dr. Michael Magoline, Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Surgeon and Co-Director of the 12 outpatient clinics that the hospital currently operates. "This partnership fits perfectly with the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center’s mission to provide the highest quality orthopaedic care to our ever-expanding community and allows us to focus and contribute our resources to truly make a difference in the lives of families in this area."
You can watch a video of Santa’s special Crystal Clinic sleigh ride here.
With a team of more than 41 physicians and 750 clinical and support staff, the Crystal Clinic has been serving families throughout Northeast Ohio since 1998. And now, all of our families have access to their elite care.
The long-term commitment to and passion for our kids that our partners show make us proud to say, "We Are Family."
