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Shaquille O'Neal made the holidays a little brighter for hundreds of underserved elementary school students in Atlanta this week.
Now in its 24th year, the four-time NBA champion treated over 600 pre-k through fifth grade students at Fairview Elementary School with surprises at his annual "Shaq-A-Claus" event on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The kids in attendance were gifted everything from bikes and laptops, to toys and clothing, thanks to the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation.
At the event, Shaq and his son Shareef also gave away thousands of pairs of sneakers, including some of the newest designs from his own shoe line.
"I don’t do small, especially during the holidays," Shaq wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, Dec. 16, alongside a photo of himself standing in a room packed with brand new shiny bicycles.
"Shaq-A-Claus is BIG joy, BIG heart, and BIG love for these kids. For 24 years, through @shaqfoundation, we’ve been showing kids across the country that they are seen, supported, and believed in," he added.
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Shaquille O'Neal wants to bring 'Shaq-A-Claus' event to all 50 states
O'Neal says his annual "Shaq-A-Claus" event has been so successful that his dream is to bring it to all 50 states.
In an interview with "TMZ," the NBA legend said his mission is to make the event even bigger than it already is.
"“I want to get 50 of my biggest friends, and they just take care of where they’re from," he said.
“Some people call this giving -- I call it doing what my mother started, and what she told me to do,” he added. “A lot of kids look up to me. I’m still kind of amazed that I haven’t played basketball in 50 years and kids still look up to me.”
Shaq says he's been fortunate enough to "live the American dream," and wants to do his part to help those less fortunate.
"I just like to help kids smile," he said.
It was the former NBA star's mother who originally came up with the idea in 1992.
While she wanted to hand-deliver gifts to 5,000 children herself, the former Lakers star said he didn't feel comfortable with her doing that alone. So instead, he and a couple of friends got a U-Haul truck and packed it full of toys.
This Christmas, Shaq-A-Claus will spread cheer across dozens of schools and Boys & Girls Clubs in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando, New Jersey, and Dallas, among others.
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