Shaq-A-Claus Throws All-Star Event for Schoolchildren in McDonough, GA

ATLANTA, Dec. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the most wonderful time of year for more than 500 schoolchildren in the Atlanta area as Shaq-A-Claus (aka NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal) visits Wesley Lakes Elementary School on Monday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m.

The jolly big man will bring extra big cheer, with plenty of surprises, toys and treats for boys and girls – including a visit from a full-sized version of Tonka's iconic yellow dump truck. This marks the 20^th year that Shaq-A-Claus has brightened the holidays for children in need around the country.

"It always brings pure joy to see these faces light up when they open their gifts," O'Neal said. "But knowing these kids are also being set up for a successful new year with school supplies, warm clothes and other necessities that can be tough for some families to provide brings me yearlong satisfaction. I'm incredibly grateful to my business partners and their giving spirit for making this event so meaningful."

This year, Shaq-A-Claus will check the following items off holiday wish lists, courtesy of business partners:

• Tonka Toys and Trucks by Basic Fun!
• Alkaline88 refreshments
• A selection of snacks courtesy of Frito-Lay
• $100.00 Walmart gift cards for all 5^th grade students and their families donated by Pepsi Stronger Together
• Hobbytron gifts by World Tech Toys
• Fresh haircuts by Great Clips
• Jackets and socks from the Macy's and Soles4Souls partnership
• Vera Bradley backpacks
• Dixon Ticonderoga school supplies

The festivities will also include carnival games, a live DJ and lunch served by This Is It! Southern Kitchen & Bar-B-Q. 

Shaq-A-Claus will appear from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Wesley Lakes Elementary School, 685 McDonough Parkway, McDonough, Georgia 30253; Jodye R. Callaway, Principal

About The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation 
The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation creates pathways for underserved youth, helping them achieve their full potential. Established in 2019 by the NBA Hall of Famer, television sports analyst and entrepreneur Shaquille O'Neal, the Foundation works to instill hope and bring about change in communities, collectively shaping a brighter future for our children. While primarily partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Communities in Schools, the Foundation will simultaneously support Shaquille's other charitable endeavors, such as his annual Shaq-a-Claus holiday event and initiatives alongside his corporate partners. For more information, visit shaqfoundation.org. 

About The Alkaline Water Company
The Alkaline Water Company is the Clean Beverage^® company making a difference in the water you drink and the world we share. Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88^®, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88^® delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label "Clean Beverage." To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About Clothes4Souls
Clothes4Souls, a division of the non-profit Soles4Souls, turns shoes and clothing into opportunity by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use: providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the organization repurposes product to supply its micro-enterprise, disaster relief, and direct assistance programs. With locations and warehouses across three continents, Soles4Souls has been able to distribute more than 73 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing in 129 countries since 2006. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

About Dixon Ticonderoga
At Dixon Ticonderoga Company, we enable students, thinkers and artists to transform their vision into reality. We do this because we believe creativity can change the world. This is why we produce the world's best pencil, the finest art papers, premium art supplies, craft essentials and more…to give everyone the tools and confidence to put pencil to paper, make that first brush stroke or share their ideas. Dixon Ticonderoga Company. The Catalyst of Creativity.

About Great Clips, Inc.
Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis. Today, Great Clips has over 4,500 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world's largest salon brand. Great Clips is 100 percent franchised, and salons are owned locally by more than 1,100 franchisees across the U.S. and Canada. Great Clips franchisees employ nearly 30,000 stylists. Great Clips salons provide value-priced, high-quality haircare for men, women and children. Getting a great haircut at Great Clips is more convenient than ever with Online Check-In, ReadyNext^® text alerts and Clip Notes^®. To check in online, visit GreatClips.com or download the free app. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit GreatClips.com.

About Macy's Buy a Coat and We'll Donate One Campaign
Macy's, in partnership with Clothes4Souls, invited customers to help those in need by purchasing a coat as part of Macy's "Buy a Coat and We'll Donate One" campaign. On Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10, for every eligible coat purchased in-store or online, Macy's donated a brand-new coat, up to 20,000 coats, to Clothes4Souls – a division of Soles4Souls – to provide warmth, hope and dignity to those in need this winter. Learn more at macys.com/macysgives.

About Pepsi Stronger Together
Pepsi Stronger Together is a national initiative to empower and engage communities around the country by providing tailored programming and resources that bring people together. It was conceived with the idea that now, more than ever, we must foster a sense of connection and belonging, starting by investing locally. Launched in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - engaging its network of partners in the South to shine a spotlight on essential front-line workers in a variety of industries - Pepsi Stronger Together was expanded in October of 2020 by partnering with NBA teams and charitable organizations to foster, among other things, community and police relations. Stay up to date at pepsistrongertogether.com, where visitors can engage in conversation and learn about the latest community initiatives and how to give back. Follow the conversation on social media at @pepsistrongertogether.

About This Is It! Southern Kitchen & Bar-B-Q
Established in 1983, This Is It! Southern Kitchen & Bar-B-Q specializes in delicious, authentic, southern, home-style cuisine and is nationally known for its famous award-winning barbeque rib tips. For over 38 years, This Is It! has been recognized for exceptional hospitality and service paired with the best authentic freshly prepared barbeque and seafood. Headquartered in Fayetteville, Georgia, This Is It! has 11 restaurant locations and one franchise throughout the Metro Atlanta area offering dine-in, to-go, delivery, private and corporate catering, and three full scale event rental spaces. Learn more about This Is It! at www.thisisitbbq.com.

About Tonka
Tonka was created in 1946 by a gardening supply company in Mound, Minnesota called Mound Metalcraft, which later become Tonka Toys Incorporated. The steel toy trucks became an iconic rite of passage gift for boys. At one time, Tonka was the world's largest manufacturer of trucks! Over the years, the company was purchased by Hasbro and the company, along with its licensees, have manufactured the product line since 1991. Basic Fun!, the Florida-based toy and novelties company, creates and manufacturers the iconic line of Tonka Trucks, including the right-of-passage Steel Classics Tonka Trucks, die-cast range, and Tonka Tough plastic lights and sounds. TONKA and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2021 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved by Hasbro.

About Vera Bradley, Inc.
Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally-connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as causal, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as "gifting" and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women's handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace.

About World Tech Toys and Hobbytron
Incorporated in 2004, World Tech Toys came into the Radio Control market strong by offering a wide variety of hobby grade helicopters and vehicles at competitive pricing.  As customers continue to request more creativity and durability in R/C Flight, World Tech Toys responds by working closely with their factory and seeking innovation in the category.

Hobbytron is among the best and biggest online kids toy stores in the United States. We offer a wide range of Marvel toys, Disney toys, Star Wars, Cars & truck and much more. Learn more at www.hobbytron.com.

SOURCE The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation