When Shaquille O'Neal gifted hundreds of new shoes to elementary school students in a wholesome moment
Not only is Shaquille O'Neal one of the best basketball players of all time, he's also a very generous person. The four-time NBA champion, who is worth $400 million in 2022, has spent millions of dollars helping the less fortunate.
During his impressive professional basketball career, O'Neal played for six different teams. Due to this, he has connections and properties in a couple of cities across the nation. Shaq is also an Atlanta resident, despite never playing for the Hawks.
This article will reveal Shaquille O'Neal's generous donation of new shoes to elementary school students. This wholesome event took place in 2021 and hundreds of kids received new pairs of shoes that day.
Shaquille O'Neal's generous donation of hundreds of new shoes
In May 2021, the Hall of Famer teamed up with Reebok and Soles4Souls to distribute 500 new pairs of shoes to students. The heartwarming event took place at the end of the school year.
Shaq visited Wesley Lakes Elementary in McDonough, Georgia, surprising students with new shoes. He knew that a lot of kids needed shoes, yet their parents couldn't afford them.
"It's all about the kids," O'Neal said after donating shoes. "The two things that really hurt me this year were seeing 40 million people out of work, and I hate seeing kids who don't have what they need."
The 15-time All-Star referred to the coronavirus pandemic that has affected millions of people in Georgia alone. According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, more than four million Georgians filed for unemployment benefits in 2020.
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The donation of shoes was just one of many generous acts by the four-time NBA champion. A few months before this, O'Neal helped high school athletes with "Get Game Ready" grants. These grants helped 23 schools, including six in Georgia.
In December 2020, just a few days before Christmas, the big man delivered gifts to children in Georgia. These gifts included toys, games, gift cards, and other amazing presents.
Shaquille's connection to Georgia
O'Neal's donation of 500 pairs of shoes to children from McDonough was amazing. The former NBA player has been involved in a lot of charitable work in Georgia, despite never playing for the Atlanta Hawks.
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The city, which is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, is Shaquille O'Neal's second home. This is a big reason why he's been involved with the community.
The basketball superstar purchased real estate in McDonough in 2016. The property was worth $1.15 million and sits on 14.3 acres of land.