Shaquille O'Neal Foundation Gets Donation Of 5 Acres In Vegas

The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation is getting a gift from Clark County in Nevada.

The county recently announced that they will be donating nearly 5 acres of vacant property in east Las Vegas for a new Boys & Girls Club.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Clark County commissioners voted to approve a deal that donates 4.81 acres of vacant land at the northeast corner of Lamb Boulevard and Kell Lane in east Las Vegas to the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation for a new Boys & Girls Club.

The building is expected to cost $16 million to build and will "provide youth with academic and personal development resources. The club will also offer college and career readiness opportunities.

The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation is a Vegas-based 501c3 organization that "provides resources and opportunities for underserved youth."

According to the Foundation's website, they "team with Boys & Girls Clubs and Community Schools," with their work primarily focused in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

It was also reported that the Foundation will be required to send the county annual reports on the programs offered, the number of clients assisted, and fundraising efforts.

O'Neal recently shared a video on his Instagram page that showcases a summer camp he was involved with.

"My Sports Spectacular Summer Camp was the highlight of the summer. Teaming up with the Henry County Sheriff's Office, we put together a week full of sports and community events for middle and high school athletes," he wrote in his caption.

"Thank you to Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett and the coaches who helped make this week special. Shout out to Mercy Chefs for closing out the camp with a delicious lunch and backpacks full of food for the participants. The most important thing we can teach our youth is to value their worth and be team players."

The video shows some highlights from the camp, including O'Neal enjoying his time there with the kids and adults who helped run the camp.

Mercy Chefs hopped into the comments to say, "We had such an amazing day! Such an honor to support this camp and these kids." Many other viewers also left supportive comments.

"Shaquille this is a wonderful project that you are part of. Great meals and lots of fun with you as well. You're such a Blessing to these kids and staff. I'm glad you shared this event," one person wrote. Another added, "Cannot stop praising Shaq and all the goodness you keep yourself busy with. You are a terrific example young giant!"

Last October, The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation held its annual large-scale fundraising gala, "The Event." O'Neal was one of the big winners during the event that helped to raise money for the foundation.

"The Event" was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and O'Neal ended up going home with some big prizes. He bid on and won two big prizes - $50,000 for a trip to Bora Bora and $20,000 so his mom, Lucille O'Neal, could sit at a single table on stage during the concert that included Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Anderson Paak, and Dan+Shay.

During the fundraising event, guests had the chance to bid on a variety of items during a live auction. One prize was to hang out with O'Neal at his house. Another prize was a round of golf with Mark Wahlberg.

"The Event" also featured a private cocktail reception, private dinner, plus live music and comedy that was open to the public.

The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation was established in 2019 with a mission to create "pathways for underserved youth, helping them achieve their full potential," according to its website.

The former NBA star's focus through the foundation is to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs and Communities in Schools and support other charitable endeavors and initiatives.

The foundation has many annual projects including Shaq-a-Claus and Shaq-to-School, as well as other capital projects that have provided sports courts for various Boys & Girls Clubs.

Education is very important to the NBA legend. He recently invested in a startup called Campus, which focuses on helping community college students finish their degrees and continue to complete a bachelor's degree.

"I heard Jeff Bezos say, if you invest in things that's going to change people's lives, you'll always get a great return on your investment," O'Neal told Fortune. "But this particular investment is not about great return because I feel that everyone should have access to world-class education."

O'Neal shared information about a no-cost summer program through Campus on his Instagram page recently.

Many people dropped into the comment section to praise him for all he's doing to help others continue their education.

"Education is the key," one person wrote. Another said, "Shaq, thank you so much. Education is essential."