For the kids, it was a day of fun at Cedar Point.
For the parents, it was another important step for their children toward a high school diploma and ultimately a degree from the University of Akron.
OK ... Maybe it was also about having a bit of fun for Mom and Dad, too.
“I’m done. I’m done,” said Kwame Malone, a bit rattled as she exited the Scrambler on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m too old. I’m done.”
Her daughter, Anya, just smiled.
Going into the eighth grade, Anya is among the original Akron Public Schools kids who are part of the LeBron James Family Foundation’s effort to keep kids in school and earn a high school diploma.
Kwame still tears up a bit when she thinks back to the moment at last year’s LeBron James Family Foundation’s We Are Family Reunion at Cedar Point when it was announced that those kids who successfully complete the mentoring efforts and maintain good grades through graduation will be awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of Akron.
She credits the foundation with helping to establish good study habits and life skills for her daughter.
Kwame said Anya still has the red bike that LeBron gave her as part of the Wheels for Education program.
“I am so blessed that my daughter got into this program,” she said. “It is the best.
“It is a family. We all wear our T-shirts that say, ‘We are Family.’ But we are truly a family.”
The Malones were among 7,000 visitors — Akron school kids and their families — who were at Cedar Point for a fun getaway and a pep talk from LeBron.
Foundation spokeswoman Stephanie Rosa said the park along with Chase Bank hosted the event and Goodyear provided the transportation for the kids and their families to make the trek from Akron.
Later in the evening, LeBron took the stage at Cedar Point while singer Aloe Blacc sang The Man to the screaming crowd.
Echoing his call from the ESPY Awards this year where he and other NBA greats challenged the nation to look in the mirror, LeBron once again asked the kids and parents to ask themselves “What are we doing to create change?”
LeBron told the crowd that these are troubled times in the country and he believes change begins in the community.
“It starts brick by brick,” he said. “Family by family.”
The message was mirrored by Akron residents and kids onstage wearing shirts with simple messages like “neighborhood” or “school system” — worn by Akron Superintendent David W. James.
The work by his foundation and its workers, LeBron said, is a great start as the future of Akron and the nation rests with the kids.
“This [reunion] is always the greatest night for myself,” he said. “Another great night was at Golden State. Yeah, that was a great night. But this trumps it all.”
LeBron said he is always excited to welcome the real stars of the night: Another new class to his Wheels for Education program and another class moving onto his I Promise program.
“This is beyond crazy,” he said. “This is year six.”
Before leaving the stage into a sea of waving and cheering kids, LeBron joked that he might try out some of the park’s crazy rides since he has “signed” his new three-year deal with the Cavs.
“I love you guys always,” he said, high-fiving kids as he exited.
Park General Manager Jason McClure said hosting the event is a great partnership that started when he tweeted an offer to name roller coaster after LeBron should he return to the Cavs.
LeBron instead asked the park to host a getaway for the kids who are part of his foundation.
With LeBron’s work with families in Akron and the park’s tradition of creating family memories, McClure said, “it was just a natural fit.”
Beverly Lymor said the program has been a great fit for her son, Blake, a fourth-grader at Betty Jane Community Learning Center.
He was able to attend a series of science camps this summer and has the opportunity to earn a full college scholarship.
She said the periodic calls from LeBron, encouraging her son to work hard in school help, too.
“I think without this program, it would be grim,” she said of her son’s prospects for a college degree. “He will have the chance to start life with a clean slate — no college debt.”
New to the program, Matthew Perusky, 9, jumped up and down with “joy” when he received the call that he had been selected to be in the latest class of LeBron’s Wheels for Education program.
“I like to do good in school,” said the third-grader at Seiberling Elementary School.
He plans to remain in the program and graduate into LeBron’s Akron I Promise initiative for older students and eventually earn the scholarship to UA, where he hopes to study to be a doctor.
“I want to help people — kinda like LeBron.”
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.