LeBron James Mural to Stay During Republican National Convention

Social media outcry and a petition helped influence Sherwin Williams to keep the iconic LeBron James mural up during the Republican National Convention.

The initial plan was to remove it altogether, replace it with a red, white and blue RNC themed mural and then replace the LeBron mural sometime in the fall.

Not only is Sherwin Williams keeping the Lebron mural up, they are also donating $150,000 to the LeBron James Foundation in honor of Cleveland's first major sports championship in 52 years and the company's 150th anniversary.

Sherwin Williams issued the following statement:

Sherwin-Williams today announced in celebration of its 150th anniversary and the first Cleveland hometown sports championship in 52 years, the company is donating $150,000 to the LeBron James Family Foundation.

In recognition of fan interest, the company will keep the now-famous LeBron James banner hanging from its global headquarters building. The banner was set to come down for the summer in order to display a Sherwin-Williams banner celebrating 150 years.

“For 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been proud to call Cleveland our home, and we’re committed to doing the right thing for the people of this great city," said John Morikis, President and CEO, The Sherwin-Williams Company. “For the last year, we’ve been planning to hang a celebratory banner outside our building during the summer months. But what better way to celebrate our 150th year than with a NBA championship. As a long-time supporter of the Cavs, and the entire community, we want the energy and excitement in this city to continue."

Sherwin-Williams supports the Cavaliers and the Cleveland community in numerous ways. The company was a co-sponsor of last week’s parade, employs 3,000 people in Northeast Ohio who volunteer their time across the community, and Sherwin-Williams has a long history of donations to worthwhile causes, such as the LeBron James Family Foundation.

“We are so grateful to the Sherwin-Williams Company for their continued generosity to the Akron and Cleveland communities, and would like to congratulate them on their 150-year milestone," said Michele Campbell, the Executive Director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “This contribution to our kids will go a long way in helping us provide the resources and interventions necessary to keep our students in school and on the path to a college education."

The LeBron James Family Foundation’s mission is to positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational activities.

[Image by Keith Allison Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0]