‘Tis the season for hundreds of children from kindergarten to 12th grade in the Atlanta area to receive a very merry visit from Shaq-A-Claus at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 3:30 p.m.
Through the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, the basketball legend continues his 21-year tradition of brightening the holidays by providing thousands of toys, clothing, meals, and more to underprivileged youth across the country. The Big Man is throwing six of these parties over the month in Atlanta, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Orlando.
This will be the inaugural Shaq-A-Claus event hosted at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club, which opened in 2021.
This will be the inaugural Shaq-A-Claus event hosted at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club, which opened in August 2021. The facility, housed in the former Henry County Middle School, underwent a $1.1 million renovation before opening its doors to local youth.
“The kids can play in a great new space from an organization that I’m extremely proud to be associated with,” O’Neal said. “And they will go home with big smiles and an armful of gifts thanks to my incredibly generous sponsors who understand what makes kids feel happy, successful and supported.”
This year, Shaq-A-Claus will check the following items off holiday wish lists, courtesy of business partners:
Fresh haircuts by Great Clips
$100.00 Walmart gift cards for all 5th grade students and their families, donated by Pepsi Stronger Together
Meal programs from Food for Good by PepsiCo
Tonka Toys and Trucks
Alkaline88 refreshments
Hobbytron drones by World Tech Toys
Dixon Ticonderoga school supplies
Backpacks donated by the Kids In Need Foundation
Nautica and IZOD socks
A selection of snacks courtesy of Frito-Lay
The festivities also will include carnival games and prizes, a live DJ and hot pizzas served by Papa John’s. Shaq-A-Claus will appear at 3:30 p.m. at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, 166 Holly Smith Dr. McDonough, GA 30253.