Shaquille O’Neal loves the kids!

The NBA Hall of Famer surprised guests at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s Youth of the Year Gala by awarding $20,000 in scholarships to standout teens, $10,000 apiece for the winner Zoe B. and runner-up Adiya J., with the remaining finalists receiving $500 each. 

Empower Atlanta noted the gala capped a months-long Youth of the Year process that had 16 finalists prepare speeches, personal essays, and interviews before advancing to the local finale. Shaq spent time with contestants backstage before stepping onstage to announce the top five and deliver the surprise scholarships.

Onstage, O’Neal praised the Club system for helping shape him as a youth. “This organization changed my life,” O’Neal told the audience. “When I was growing up, the Club gave me a safe place to go, and it connected me with people who believed in me.” Organizers said the awards will help cover college costs, training programs, and other postsecondary expenses for the teens.

The surprise scholarship is part of Shaq’s larger, ongoing investment in Metro Atlanta. His foundation backed a $1.1 million renovation of a former Henry County middle school that became the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, a site now serving 400+ members with a learning center, tech labs, arts spaces, and a full gym.

The night raised roughly $1.3 million to support the organization’s 25 Clubs across nine countries. The Clubs serve more than 7,000 youth annually with tutoring, health, and workforce programs. Shaq’s gift is generous and a testament to his philanthropy and love of a program that changed his life.