LeBron James came roaring off the bench to help Nickelodeon honor Darrius Snow, one of four teens spotlighted in Friday night's "TeenNick Halo Awards."
A 19-year-old Atlanta native, Snow founded an organization that provides activities and positive messages to kids and teens in a crime-infested neighborhood.
The "TeenNick Halo Awards," which airs at 8 p.m. Friday on TeenNick and at 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon,shows how host Nick Cannon surprised Snow this summer, whisking him off to Akron and a meeting with his hero, LeBron.
Snow got to spend the Aug. 20-22 weekend with the Cleveland Cavaliers star, attending the "More than A Game" documentary movie premiere at Akron's Civic Theatre. He shot hoops with LeBron at the Nike Basketball Day. He rode a bicycle alongside his hero in the LeBron James King for Kids bike-a-thon. And LeBron joined Cannon to formally present him the Halo Award.
The "TeenNick Halo Awards" program honors teens trying to help their communities. Snow was born a crack baby in the projects of Atlanta. Abandoned by his parents, he grew up in the dangerous Bankhead Court projects. He credits his fifth-grade principal with turning around his life.
Snow is the fist member of his family to graduate high school and attend college. He formed BTEAM (Bankhead Teens Encouraging Action by Motivating Others), which encourages youngsters to stay away from crime and drugs.
"What you're doing today, man, giving back to the community, giving back to the kids, man, is unbelievable," James tells Snow during the "Teen Nick Halo Awards." "Being left by yourself at a young age and being able to turn that all the way around, I mean, you're the man of the hour. I want to say thanks for coming my home city."
Created and produced by Cannon, the HALO awards recognize teens involved in philanthropic causes. HALO stands for, "Helping and Leading Others." It's the type of show where celebrities don't get awards, Cannon says, they give them: "The stories of these four teens are both motivational and uplifting, and we think the HALO Awards will help to inspire other young people in their communities to get involved in service."
The other celebrities helping out in Friday's HALO show are Alicia Keys, Hayden Panettiere and Justin Timberlake. It also features a message from First Lady Michelle Obama. When asked what it was like to spend the weekend with his hero, Snow's euphoric response was, "I'm on cloud nine."