When LeBron James throws a family reunion, you’d better plan to bring plenty of potato salad.
Try tons of the tasty reunion staple.
Some 5,000 Akron kids and their families will be at Cedar Point on Tuesday for the LeBron James Family Foundation’s We Are Family Reunion.
Thanks to donations by Chase Bank and Cedar Point and others, the invited Akron kids, who are part of James’ Wheels for Education and the Akron I Promise Network, will be treated to a day of fun at the park and chance to attend a talk by James, Akron’s favorite son.
The trip to Cedar Point — now in its second year — marks the beginning of a partnership between James and a new third-grade class to encourage the youngsters to work hard and stay in school.
The young students eventually graduate into the Akron I Promise initiative, which provides Akron school kids mentoring and encouragement to continue to work toward good grades and attend classes.
At last year’s event, James announced a new carrot for those kids — a full scholarship to the University of Akron after they graduate high school.
About 1,250 kids are active in the two programs.
Cedar Point and James formed a partnership after the park on a whim offered to name a roller coaster after the NBA star should he return to the Cavs. Instead, the two decided to promote his effort to keep Akron school kids in the classroom.
It is no coincidence that Cedar Point has declared this Cleveland Fan Appreciation Week.
The planned events include interactive experiences, mascots and entertainment from the dance teams and cheerleaders from the Cleveland Gladiators, the Cleveland Monsters and the Cavaliers.
Guests at the park are encouraged to wear gear from their favorite Cleveland sports team.
Special events include:
• Wednesday: Roaming entertainment teams from the Cavaliers, Monsters and Gladiators and team mascots, a Celebration Plaza performance and a Slapshot Ice Experience, along with inflatables.
• Thursday: An appearance by Monsters player Jaime Sifers, roaming entertainment teams from the Cavaliers, Monsters and Gladiators and team mascots, a Celebration Plaza performance and the Slapshot Ice Experience and inflatables.
• Friday: Roaming entertainment teams from the Cavaliers, Monsters and Gladiators, a Celebration Plaza performance and the Ice Experience.
The park is also honoring James’ number with a $23 discount for those who use the promo code CLEFAN when buying a ticket at cedarpoint.com.
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.