LeBron James Contest Winner Helping Employ Bayview/Hunter's Point Residents In SF
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- A Bay Area businesswoman is the winner of a contest held by LeBron James.
She beat out hundreds of contestants from across the country.
San Francisco's Bayview/Hunters Point District isn't exactly known for its economic opportunity.
Six years ago Yolanda Jones founded a company that trains folks from the neighborhood to be flaggers - the guys who direct traffic at construction sites.
"It was a matter of somebody introducing the community to the source. Here is the flaggers from the community, here's the job…now let's work together. And it's been a win-win for everyone," Yolanda Jones, Founder of Yolanda's Construction Admin and Traffic Control told KPIX 5.
Jones' appeal to LeBron was made on a 23-second video, done in a single take that carried a powerful message.
"Put the guns down, put the dope down…earn a decent living," Yolanda says in her video appeal.
It was just what the show called "Cleveland Hustles" was looking for - a business owner who wants to do well by genuinely trying to do some good.
"I mean, she just, she just deserves it," Ginger Jones, Yolanda's niece and Operations Manager at the company.
So, it turns out the man who dashed the dreams of Warriors fans has a heart after all.
"He could have picked someone from another city. He picked me because I'm the best one to pick, I believe," Jones said.
The details of LeBron's endorsement are still unclear, but reportedly involves social media posts.
With his millions of followers, that can be worth big money for small businesses.