OVER THE TARGET! >>13484420 >>13484404 >>13484340 >>13484334
SHAQ SUPPORTS BUSINESSES WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN NEW SERIES ‘SHAQ GIVES BACK’
Shaquille O’Neal is teaming with The General Insurance to surprise and support everyday people with financial assistance from challenges that may have emerged during the pandemic. The all-new, three-part video series, Shaq Gives Back, is now available on Bleacher Report.
“Giving back is something I have always been passionate about. I’m proud to have teamed up with my friends at The General – they were there for me when I needed them and this is a great example of how they are there for people when they need it most,” said O’Neal.
<snipped>
In an exclusive, Shaq spoke with The Source about the roots of his philanthropic efforts, his efforts with The General, and his outlook on the NBA, including Zion Williamson being compared to him.
<snipped>
Well, you know, if you don’t believe in that business alone, shame on you. I’m an old-school businessman, not in it to take people’s money. But like I said, when I was in college and drove an old, beat-up rusty Bronco, The General insurance was the only insurance that I could afford. Whenever we do deals with companies we tell them it needs to be a community aspect. The General they do a lot unseen I’ll call them like, Hey, I need money for this and they always take care of me. So they’re a very charitable organization and they’re all about making people happy and not to mention being a quality insurance company that is saving people money for 60 years.
<snipped>
Dr. Lucille O’Neal, which happens to be my mother. She put her hands on my shoulders and said she loves me and that it was time to bless other people. I want you to make other people happy and do one good deed a day. I didn’t know what that meant until it just hit me. It’s not planned. The only time it’s planed is when I go to big stores like Walmart, Best Buy, furniture stores. That’s when this plan, that’s when I say, okay, I’m about to go buy me some furniture. I’m gonna walk around. And when I see something that reminds me of something, I take care of her. Every time I go to the Best Buy I’m in that lay-a-way section, just listening, I’m just listening to see what people are doing. If I ever see a mom with a kid, ding, ding, ding. Cause that used to be me and my mother. Whenever I’m in a Walmart, I’m roaming around the toy section just looking. I see some kids, I ask do they know who I am and if they are doing good in school. I meet their mom and ask if they can accept a bike from a stranger, we talk, and I buy the bike. Just little stuff like that to make people smile. My favorite things to buy are the 75 inch TVs that are just $700 now.
<snipped>
This right here, without this financial assistance, these businesses will have to probably make the tough decision of letting some people go. So we just wanted to just let them know that we recognize we love him. We care and we’re doing it because we want other big corporations to follow up. I always know is I’ll always say if you get one big-time person to just take care of where they come from and where they live will be in a better place. I want to do, this is my dream. I want to do a 50 state Shaq-a-Claus Shaq-a-thon, that, for example, I’m sure I’m taking care of Atlanta, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, and California. Speaking of California, we’ve got Snoop Dogg in Long Beach. Send it to Oakland and we got Too Short. Kick it up to Portland and there is Dame Lillard. Have every big-time person take care of where they come from. If I could take care of the world I definitely would brother.
<article is continued>
https://thesource.com/2021/04/21/shaq-supports-businesses-with-financial-support-in-new-series-shaq-gives-back/