Kelly Clarkson & LeBron James To Help Kick Off 'Get Schooled'

Updated 11:30 PM EDT, Fri, Aug 14, 2009

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LeBron James will soon be teaming up with Kelly Clarkson.

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Singer Kelly Clarkson and NBA MVP LeBron James will help kids "Get Schooled" this fall.

The stars will participate in the new national education initiative from Viacom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which will launch with a TV special featuring the celebs.

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On Tuesday, September 8, the 30-minute special, titled "Get Schooled: You Have The Right," will air across all of Viacom's networks, which include MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, CMT, VH1 and Spike TV.

"Lots of young people run into problems beyond their control, like finances, that keep them from pursuing their education," Kelly said in a statement. "At that point, it's easy to give up. But I believe it's important to continue to work hard and learn from everyone and everything around you."

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The special will examine education's impact on Kelly and LeBron, with key moments that influenced their lives and prepared them for their careers. Together, Viacom and the Bell & Melinda Gates Foundation will use it as the launching point for a five-year initiative that will provide the platform for corporate and community stakeholders to address the challenges facing public schools.

"I know first hand how important it is for young people to have role models who can inspire them about the importance of education," LeBron said in a statement. "And help them make good choices that will provide them with tools to succeed."

Get Schooled: You Have the Right is created and executive produced by Dave Sirulnick and executive produced and directed by Lauren Lazin.

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@radical.media is a strategic, creative and production partner of the Get Schooled initiative.

ABOUT 'GET SCHOOLED'

"Get Schooled" is a national platform that connects, inspires and mobilizes people - from policymakers and corporate leaders to communities and kids - to find effective solutions to the problems facing our education system. It provides resources and information, community outreach and creative programming that engage a range of audiences around America's education crisis.

"Get Schooled's" co-developers are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom, including BET Networks, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures. The initiative combines the Foundation's deep knowledge of education reform with the power of Viacom's diverse brands to raise awareness about the challenges facing America's public education system.

To find out more about Get Schooled and the initiative's groundbreaking national television premiere on September 8, visit www.getschooled.com.

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