*Shaquille O’Neal is getting well-deserved recognition for helping his fellow man, woman, and child. Essentially Sports reports the four-time NBA champ was named the 11th Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year for 2024.
The honor, bestowed by the Kentucky-based Muhammad Ali Center, recognizes social change icons in the same vein as its legendary namesake with four seasonal awards. The acknowledgment for O’Neal is notable as he becomes the first-ever NBA player to reach that level.
Past actions from the basketball icon include buying cars for his rookie teammates, footing the bill for an entire store’s purchases, in addition to his work with the Boys and Girls Club, the annual star-studded The Event in November and Shaq-a-Clause during the holidays, not to mention random acts of kindness whenever he sees fit.
Taking account of O’Neal’s good deeds, Essentially Sports highlighted a busy summer for the sports star. When’s not following Team USA on exhibition games during the 2024 Olympics or on the 1’s and 2’s during his Summer of Bass tour O’Neal can be found hosting his annual Sports Spectacular Camp as well as ‘Shaq-to-school’ events for Atlanta and Dallas kids via his connection to JCPenney. The Sports Spectacular camp is noted for providing a boost to student-athletes sports. Adding to the effort, O’Neal’s presence is maintained by supplying attendees with gift cards, meals, haircuts, and back-to-school supplies.
During a two-day EDM event in Las Vegas, the sports fixture announced a collaboration with The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and local councils that involves construction of a youth facility in Northeast Vegas for the Boys and Girls Club as well as the building of a CIS Alumni Center.
The 11th Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards is set to take place on November 9, along with the Center’s annual fundraiser. In addition to the Papa John’s Pizza owner and brand ambassador, the event will honor young change-makers with six core awards, notable civil rights attorney and social just activist Bryan Stevenson with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Grammy-winning musician, songwriter and record producer Nile Rodgers with the Global Citizenship Award.
At this time, O’Neal has not responded to being named Humanitarian of the Year. What is known is that he joins high powered roster of previous honorees that include inaugural Humanitarian of the Year/hitmaker Christina Aguilera as well as singer Michael Bolton, “Back to the Future film series star/activist Michael J. Fox, and “Thelma & Louise” entertainer/activist Susan Sarandon.
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