Shaq is still finding ways to make an impact long after his playing days—and his latest move put the spotlight firmly on Atlanta’s next generation of leaders.
According to Empower Atlanta Magazine, last week, the NBA Hall of Famer surprised attendees at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s annual Youth of the Year Gala by awarding $20,000 in scholarships to two standout teens.
The event, hosted at the Coca-Cola Roxy and presented by Bank of America, marked the finale of a months-long leadership and academic development program.
Sixteen teens from across the region advanced to this year’s final round, where they presented speeches, completed personal essays, and participated in interview sessions with community mentors. The gala routinely raises major support for the organization—but this year, Shaq added an extra boost.
Through the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, he gifted $10,000 each to the Youth of the Year winner, Zoe B., and the runner-up, Adiya J.
The awards were in addition to their existing scholarship packages—$10,000 for the winner and $5,000 for the runner-up—funded through the David Jernigan Legacy Scholarship Fund. The remaining finalists each received $500.
Shaq didn’t just cut a check. He spent time backstage talking with the finalists, then stepped onto the stage to announce the top five candidates.
While addressing the crowd, he referenced his own experience growing up in the Boys & Girls Club system and thanked Cynthia Banks, the Newark club leader who had mentored him.
“This organization changed my life,” Shaq told the audience. “When I was growing up, the Club was my safe place… it connected me with people who believed in me.”
The moment tied back to his longstanding support of youth programs in the region, including his seven-figure investment in the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County. That facility—renovated from a former middle school—now serves more than 400 members with a tech lab, learning center, arts spaces, and a full gym.
The Metro Atlanta club system serves more than 7,000 youth across 25 sites in nine counties, offering a range of programs that include tutoring, health initiatives, and workforce training.
According to new president and CEO Libby Saylor Wright, the $1.3 million raised at this year’s gala will help expand these services even further. “Our Clubs are closing opportunity gaps every day,” she said during the program.
The night also featured performances by the Melvin Miller Trio and a themed artistic presentation by Club members.