The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation Hosts Shaq-a-Claus Events in Atlanta and Las Vegas

Shaquille O’Neal continues his 21-year tradition of brightening the holidays by providing thousands of toys, clothing, meals, and more to underserved youth. In December 2022, The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation hosted Shaq-a-Claus events in Atlanta and Las Vegas, benefitting over 400 students. 

In Atlanta, Shaq-a-Claus was held at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County for the first time. There, Shaquille passed out toys to 300 members of the Club, which opened last August, ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade. With the help of generous donations from Tonka and other partners, the children also received Nautica and IZOD socks, a selection of snacks from Frito-Lay and Food for Good by PepsiCo, bikes, Tonka toys and trucks, $100 Walmart gift cards courtesy of Pepsi Stronger Together, Dixon Ticonderoga school supplies, Hobbytron drones, backpacks donated by the Kids in Need Foundation, and fresh haircuts by Great Clips. Papa Johns also donated pizza and Alkaline88 donated bottled water to top off this wonderful holiday event for the kids. 

In Las Vegas, the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation collaborated with long-term partner Community in Schools (CIS) to host the second annual Shaq-a-Claus event in Las Vegas. Hundreds of toys and coats were donated to children at Kermit R Booker Sr. Innovative Elementary School. As a Title 1 school, many of their students come from low-income households. 100 children ranging from 5 to 12 years old received a winter coat and an array of toys as part of the Shaq-a-Claus program.  

A special thank you to Basic Fun!/Tonka, Papa Johns, Alkaline88, Frito-Lay, Pepsi Stronger Together, Great Clips, Communities in Schools, our volunteers, and the staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Henry County and Booker Elementary for making these special events possible and filling the holiday season with joy!