MESQUITE, Texas — NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal took 20 students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas on a shopping spree at JCPenney on Tuesday, July 9.
The department store and Shaq partnered to offer each student a $500 gift card and an hour of shopping so they could get all of their back-to-school items such as clothes, shoes, haircuts and more.
"The Boys & Girls Club means a lot to me, JCPenney means a lot to me. It's where my mom used to shop for all my clothes," O'Neal said at the event. "As much as you guys trying to give me all the credit, it's really JCPenney. They do stuff like this a lot -- seen and unseen."
The shopping spree, which was held at the JCPenney at 6000 Town East Mall in Mesquite, Texas, also served to highlight JCPenney Communities Foundation's strategic investment in youth-serving charities which included the following:
- $100,000 Donation to support the second year of sponsoring The Walking Classroom initiative
- A donation of 75 WalkKits to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Great Dallas
- $15,000 sponsorship from JCPenney for the 2024-2025 Walking Classroom Afterschool program
"You just always have to give back to the community," O'Neal stated. "There's always somebody in need, I was one of those children that was always in need. There was always people that were very gracious with their time -- with their money that came through."
However, giving back to the community isn't Shaq's only motivation for hosting events like this. The NBA legend credits his mother for being an important factor in his community-driven philanthropies.
"I'm a big momma's boy and I love making my mom happy," O'Neal explained. "So, like a lot of times when I do things like this, I don't even think she's watching, I'll get like the best text ever that says 'Baby you are so good and I appreciate you.'"
Shaq is no stranger to the North Texas community. Previously in 2022, O'Neal purchased a home in Carrollton -- and his real estate portfolio has since expanded after he purchased a 4,670-square-foot home in Rockwall County, according to property records.
He was recently spotted at a Walmart in Rockwall, where he took time out of his shopping to take pictures with fans and community members.
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