Bath gym hosts Savannah James’ Prom Promise

by Laura Straub

Sculpt Fitness traded in treadmills and weights for sequins and seamstresses, as the Bath gym hosted Savannah James’ eighth annual Prom Promise on March 4.

Each year, James and the LeBron James Family Foundation invite seniors from Akron Public Schools to prepare for their prom at no cost to the girls. Although the event is free to the teens, James spared no expense, with racks of new prom gowns in every color, size and style, a seamstress available to make alternations, shoes, accessories, hand massages, eyebrow grooming and a makeup consultant. Each dress was unique, so girls could rest assured there would not be any duplicates on their big night.


An Akron senior tries on a prom dress as Savannah James (r) looks on. Photo courtesy LeBron James Family Foundation

If they worked up an appetite during the frenzy of prom preparations, there were food trucks on site stocked with Swensons, smoothies and coffee.

“They really went all out to make the young ladies feel special,” said Sculpt Fitness President Josh Dickey. “And to have that one-on-one interaction with Savannah, who was amazing about encouraging and empowering the girls, was priceless for them. It was really a powerful event.”

This was Dickey’s first time hosting Prom Promise, but he’s worked with the LeBron James Family Foundation before. He said working with the organization feels more like a family affair than a client-coach relationship.

“Everything they do has such a genuine family feel to it, and they make you feel welcome and special,” he said. “That’s something they do for this entire community. Everything they do has a bigger purpose, and it’s incredible to be a part of it.”



The gym was transformed into a boutique overflowing with different styles of prom dresses. Photo courtesy LeBron James Family Foundation

Dickey has worked with the foundation to provide the team and staff at the I Promise School in Akron with physical fitness classes and workout routines that help them maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. When he heard the foundation needed a location for its prom event, Dickey was happy to help.

He worked with James to transform the large open gym into an intimate, high-end boutique.

“I was floored walking into the gym and seeing how it turned out,” Dickey said. “The idea was to think outside the box and do it bigger than they’ve ever done it, because that’s what the LeBron James Family Foundation team does. Every time they do something, they always challenge themselves to do it even bigger and better the next time. I can’t wait to see what we do next year.”

Featured image photo caption: Savannah James and the girls of Prom Promise gather at Sculpt Fitness in Bath. Photo courtesy LeBron James Family Foundation