Larry Nance Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers was “a man of the people” Sept. 13 in the parking lot of Swensons Drive-In on South Hawkins Ave. in Akron.
Nance ran food and drinks to customers for three hours during a charitable event that benefited Akron Public Schools.
“I grew up my entire life going to Swensons, both this one, the location near my house and everyone we can get our hands on,” Nance said. “… I am very proud of being a great player, making it to the NBA, playing for the Cavs and all of that. But for me it is way more about supporting the community that supported me and allowed me to get to where I am at today. That is something that has always maintained and always been a mission of mine.”
Larry Nance Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers supports the city of Akron
Larry Nance Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks about ‘supporting the community’ at Swensons during a benefit for Akron Public Schools, Sept. 13, 2025.
Nance, a 2011 Revere High School graduate who starred at the University of Wyoming, worked the lot with Swensons head server Lou Supan.
“He is killing it,” Supan said. “… He is a natural. We are lucky to have him. Larry is starting as a trainee, but there is an opportunity to earn some olives [on his Swensons name tag] today.”
Nance had five olives on his Swensons name tag by the end of his three-hour Saturday, the highest honor for a server.
“I am very proud to be from here and this is a place that I have truly eaten at hundreds of hundreds of times,” Nance said. “It is still one of my favorites and it will continue to be one of my favorites. This is an area that I will live at until I die. Why not partner with my favorite spot in my favorite area?”
Nance talked with hundreds of people at Swensons, including his wife, Hailey, his sister, Casey Nance, and their father, retired Cavaliers star Larry Nance Sr.
“You look so adorable,” Casey said to Larry Jr. when she saw him in his Swensons outfit.
Larry Nance Jr. talks with dad during Akron Public Schools fundraiser
Larry Nance Jr. and Larry Nance Sr. talk in the Swensons parking lot in Akron during a fundraiser to benefit Akron Public Schools on Sept. 13, 2025.
Akron Public Schools Superintendent Mary Outley, a 1985 Buchtel graduate, said the fundraiser “was all Larry’s idea.”
“He reached out and said he wanted to support Akron Public Schools, and we were all in 110%,” Outley said. “We are very grateful for him wanting to give back to his community.
“… Seeing the community come together in support of Akron Public Schools is wonderful. I love seeing how my staff is volunteering to take orders and deliver food to the cars. This is really creating a sense of community.”
Outley said Nance’s objective is “helping children.”
“They are all of our kids,” Outley said. “This is about how can I support teaching and learning in the Akron Public Schools. Supplies is one of the many ways that any of our community partners can support us because it directly impacts our students.”
Swensons President Jeff Flowers said it was “a privilege” to host the fundraiser, and lauded Nance for being “such a great guy.”
“As a Revere alum myself [in the Class of 2000], it is an absolute honor,” Flowers said. “This is great. This is Akron on Akron on Akron — an amazing event, benefitting the schools in Akron. …All of the energy from the schools and to come out here and support, it has been great.
Larry Nance Jr. visits Swensons to benefit Akron Public Schools
Larry Nance Jr. of the Cavaliers says he’s ‘very proud to be from here’ during a visit to Swensons to benefit Akron Public Schools on Sept. 13, 2025.
“To see the donations for all of the kids, Larry is going to be matching all of the donations. Twenty percent of all of the sales today are benefiting Akron Public Schools, and Larry is going to match all of that himself. This is a great day for the community.
“… We couldn’t be happier to host this here at the West Akron location that has been here since 1934, the original location. The curb servers are having a blast with him. He has been taking orders, he is taking out trays to deliver to our guests. He is doing an amazing job.”
Wadsworth resident Ruth Glas described Nance as “very humble” after she met him with her husband, Joe, and their son, Justin.
“Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson are my favorite players,” Justin Glas said.
Larry Nance Jr. interacts with children in Akron Public Schools fundraiser
Amherst resident Jennifer Frazier brought her son, Colt, and his friend, Cameron Broaddus, to meet Nance and eat burgers and fries.
“They love Larry Nance, and they were super excited when I told them I saw this event was happening,” Jennifer said.
Broaddus said, “Larry was so nice to everyone.”
Colt added: “It was really cool meeting Larry Nance. I love meeting NBA players. [Cameron] and I go to games all the time and we have met most of the Cavs players.”
Cleveland Cavaliers Larry Nance Jr. interacts with children at Swensons
Larry Nance Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers interacts with children during an Akron Public Schools fundraiser at Swensons on Sept. 13, 2025.
Nikalia Barclay, a 2012 Kenmore graduate, brought her children, Jonah, Niy’Lah and Da’Noah, to meet Nance.
“It was very, very exciting to meet Larry Nance Jr. because I play basketball and I am from the area,” said Jonah, a sixth grader at Innes. “I always wanted to meet an NBA player.”
Jennings teacher Jennifer Bowers stood with her children Cece and Sammy, and friend Nala Carrol, to chat with Nance.
“As a teacher in APS and a member of the Akron community my whole life, I am so thankful for Larry Nance Jr. for doing this for our community,” Bowers said. “This is totally going to benefit the students and the staff.”
Larry Nance Jr. leads fundraiser to raise money for Akron Public Schools
Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Larry Nance Jr. helps raise money at Swensons to benefit Akron Public Schools on Sep. 13, 2025.
Octavia Bell, a fifth grade student at St. Sebastian, met Nance alongside her mother, Toni Davis, and grandmother, Taye Davis.
“I was really excited to come here,” Octavia said. “He signed my basketball, and this will always be a memory.”
Wadsworth freshman Mason Brosch, 15, brought his 25-week-old pug, Argyle, to see Nance after he had previously met him at a youth basketball camp in Canton in 2018.
“I got his jersey on from 2019,” Brosch said. “I love him. He is a community guy. I met his dad when I went to one of his camps. They are just great people. I love them so much and I am so glad to have him back playing with the Cavaliers.”
Nance said seeing his name on the Swensons sign “is getting a hard Instagram post, for sure. That one is going on the feed, you better believe that. That is an honor.
“Growing up here and being able to help the local school district with my local favorite restaurant, it is really cool.”
Nance ate his first Galley Boy, a double-cheeseburger with homemade barbecue sauce and a mayo-based sauce, near the end of his shift.
“I am a double-cheese[burger] guy,” Nance said.
Nance took a few bites of his first Galley Boy, smiled and said: “I think I have to switch my order. That is pretty good. It was the olive that scared me away. I might just order it without the olive.”
Nance added he has “partnered with somebody doing the same thing in this area.”
“We will announce that a little bit later,” Nance continued. “We have some more good things coming.”
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.