A child who has to sell candy on the street to get money to buy medicine receives a surprise gift from Shaquille O’Neal
The sky above Oakland was heavy with gray clouds, a gentle drizzle creating patterns on Shaquille O’Neal’s windshield as he navigated the city’s quiet streets. Exhausted from a long day of community events, Shaq decided on an unfamiliar shortcut through a modest neighborhood to escape traffic.
As Shaq’s large SUV idled at a red light, he noticed a young boy sitting determinedly at a folding table across the street. The child wore a worn Lakers jersey—number 34, Shaq’s number—and carefully arranged sweets in front of a sign reading, “Sweets $2 Help My Mom.” Shaq felt an unexpected tug at his heart.
Curiosity won out over his exhaustion. He pulled over, donned sunglasses to maintain anonymity, and approached the table. The boy immediately straightened, eager yet polite. “Hey, what are you selling?” Shaq asked warmly.
“Homemade brownies and cookies, sir,” the boy replied earnestly. “My grandma taught me.”
“What’s your name?”
“Marcus,” he said, extending a small hand formally.
“Why are you selling sweets in the rain, Marcus?”
Marcus hesitated, then bravely explained, “To buy medicine for my mom. She has diabetes and lost her health insurance when she was fired. Her insulin costs almost $300.”
The boy’s honesty and maturity struck Shaq deeply. Just then, recognition flashed in Marcus’s eyes. “Wait… are you Shaquille O’Neal?”
Smiling softly, Shaq nodded. Marcus’s eyes widened in disbelief, tears brimming. “My mom and I watch all your old games. It’s the only thing we do together now since she works so much.”
Moved by Marcus’s determination, Shaq took out his wallet. “I’ll buy all your sweets,” he said, handing Marcus a hundred-dollar bill.
Marcus protested, “That’s too much!”
“No, Marcus,” Shaq said gently, “it’s exactly right.” Before leaving, he took Marcus’s address and phone number, promising, “I’ll do more than just buy sweets.”
That evening, Angela Davis returned home exhausted from her double shifts, greeted enthusiastically by Marcus. “Mom, you won’t believe who bought my sweets! Shaquille O’Neal!”
Angela smiled wearily, assuming it was another of Marcus’s imaginative stories. But when Marcus revealed the hundred-dollar bill, concern filled her eyes. “Marcus, you know we shouldn’t accept money from strangers.”
“But Mom, it was Shaq! He took our address and phone number!”
Angela’s heart raced with uncertainty, hope battling caution.
Meanwhile, at home, Shaq shared the day’s events with his family. “The kid wasn’t begging. He was trying to help his mom in any way he could,” Shaq explained thoughtfully. Determined to make a lasting difference, he began formulating a plan.
The next day, Angela’s phone rang. Hesitantly, she answered, stunned by the voice on the other end. “Angela Davis? This is Shaquille O’Neal. I’d like to visit you today.”
Within hours, Shaq discreetly arrived at their small apartment. Amidst initial awkwardness, Shaq noticed Angela’s unfinished nursing degree on a shelf. Her eyes welled up. “I had two semesters left but had to quit. Costs. Marcus needed me.”
Impressed by Marcus’s intelligence and Angela’s resilience, Shaq resolved to take action beyond mere charity. Over the next two weeks, he worked tirelessly, collaborating with his foundation and local organizations to create “Beyond the Game,” a program offering scholarships, healthcare support, and employment assistance to families in crisis.
Angela and Marcus soon received a formal invitation to Shaq’s Foundation. Nervous yet hopeful, they arrived dressed in their best. Shaq greeted them warmly, guiding them to a conference room filled with influential community members. Shaq stood, welcoming them.
“Angela, Marcus, welcome to the Beyond the Game program. This isn’t about charity, it’s about recognizing courage,” he explained.
One by one, individuals introduced life-changing opportunities. Angela received affordable insulin, full medical care, and a flexible administrative job with tuition assistance to finish her nursing degree. Marcus was awarded a full scholarship to an advanced science academy.
Angela, overcome with emotion, spoke tearfully. “You don’t understand what it means to be given dignity, to earn our future through our own efforts.”
In six transformative months, their lives shifted dramatically. Angela’s health improved significantly; she excelled at her new job while pursuing her degree. Marcus thrived academically, earning recognition for a project combining mathematics with basketball strategies.
That season, Angela and Marcus attended an NBA game as VIP guests. Their journey was shared on the arena’s big screen, drawing applause and support from thousands.
After the game, Marcus presented Shaq with a box of homemade brownies. “Maybe you should open a bakery someday,” Shaq joked gently.
“Actually,” Marcus responded thoughtfully, “I want to be a doctor or engineer—to help people, like you did.”
As mother and son departed hand-in-hand, Shaq reflected deeply. He had intended to help a struggling family; instead, their strength and dignity inspired him profoundly, sparking a ripple effect of kindness far beyond basketball. The true miracle, Shaq realized, was how one small act of compassion had ignited lasting hope, proving that real change comes from connections forged by empathy and courage.
Shaquille O’Neal, Who Gifted 1000 PS5s and Nintendos to Poor Kids, Finally Reveals Why He Spends Money on Strangers: “I Try To Make Everyday a Meaningful Moment for a Fan, and Especially a Kid”
Everyone knows NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greatest to ever play and one of the most recognizable players ever. But there is one side of Shaq that is underappreciated and he does it so often. And that is his willingness to donate to charity and make people smile. He does it so often and to random people, that it often gets overlooked. When asked why he does it, he finally revealed his secret.
Every now and then, a video or a clip of Shaq buying kids and random people gifts and food goes viral. He doesn’t differentiate between people and when he finds people who are in need, he does his duty. He has even built a foundation in his name for helping people who are in need.
Shaquille O’Neal says buying gifts for kids is his favorite thing to do
Shaq who has bought 1000s of PS5 and Nintendo for kids, says his favorite thing to do is to buy something for a kid. He says, “I try to make every day a meaningful moment for a fan, and especially a kid.”
“My favorite thing to do is when I’m in Best Buy, Walmart, if I see a kid, get them something that I see he’s looking at. Oh, like yesterday I saw a couple kids. I bought a couple bikes, a couple more scooters,”
He makes sure he teaches the kids not to buy things from strangers and he asks them to get permission from their parents. He adds, “Well, first I always tell them to ask their parents if they’re going to take things from strangers. You don’t want kids to get used to having a stranger come up and say, ‘Hey, I got a whole lot of money. Can I buy you something?’ “
Shaq has had some legendary moments on the court, but one of the reasons he is still beloved is his random act of kindness. It’s important to Shaq to have meaningful moments, and he has helped many of his fans. Whether it may be a bike or food or tips or anything that is needed, Shaq is always willing to help. And if it is a kid, he is generally in for a treat.
