HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Shaquille O’Neal is making sure kids in Georgia are having a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday.
O’Neal held his yearly “Shaq-a-Claus” event Monday in Henry County.
Among his stops for this year’s event was Wesley Lakes Elementary School.
O’Neal gave the kids new toys and a few high-fives, WSBTV reported.
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“I just want them to be happy. They don’t have to know I’m a basketball player,” O’Neal told WSBTV. “I’m at the point now where they can call me Uncle Shaq. I speak their language and know how school can be.”
O’Neal has been holding the event since 1997, and he credits his mother as inspiration for giving back to the community.
“The great Dr. Lucille O’Neal, who happens to be my mother, always said if I can help those in need, do it,” he told WSBTV. “For me, it’s a better feeling having her smile. Better than any commercial I’ve done. Better than any deal that I’ve done.”
O’Neal also held events across the country including, in Los Angeles, Compton and Orlando.
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #33, Center for the Cole High School Cougars basketball team talks to the media after being awarded the State Tournament Star medal following the Cougars win in the Class 3A state basketball championship on 2nd March 1989 at the Steinke Event Center at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas, United States. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #33, Center for the Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers prepares to make a free throw during the NCAA Southeastern Conference college basketball game against the Loyola Marymount University Lions on 3rd February 1990 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The LSU Fighting Tigers won the game 103 - 94. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #33 of the Cleveland Cavaliers tries to get around the defense of Kendrick Perkins #43 of the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 11, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Through the years Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets of the Western Conference contests the ball at the tip off against Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic of the Eastern Conference during game 4 of the National Basketball Association Finals game on 14 June 1995 at The Summit, Houston, Texas, United States. Visions of Sport. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #32, Center for the Orlando Magic hangs off the the rim following a slam dunk score during the NBA Atlantic Division basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers on 20th February 1996 at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, United States. The Orlando Magic won the game 123 - 104. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #34, Center for the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on 17th April 1997 at the Great Western Forum arena in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Lakers won the game 108 - 99. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #34, Center for the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on 17th February 1999 at the Great Western Forum arena in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Lakers won the game 101 - 88. (Photo by Vincent Laforet/Getty Images) (Vincent Laforet/Getty Images)
Through the years LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers congratulates Shaquille O'Neal #33 after his basket against the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 101-93. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal #36 of the Boston Celtics celebrates his basket in the fourth quarter against the New Jersey Nets on November 24, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the nets 89-83. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
Through the years Nick Cannon (L) and Shaquille O' Neal perform during the 3rd Annual Cartoon Network's "Hall Of Fame" Awards at the Barker Hangar on February 9, 2013 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Western Conference All-Star Ben McLemore #16 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball over Shaquille O'Neal during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest 2014 as part of the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Smoothie King Center on February 15, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Through the years NBA basketball player Shaquille O'Neal poses with Reebok sneakers at the Reebok Classic Breakout at Philadelphia University on July 9, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Reebok) (Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Reebok)
Through the years (L-R) TV personality/retired basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, comedian Jeff Ross, and roastmaster Kevin Hart onstage at The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber at Sony Pictures Studios on March 14, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber will air on March 30, 2015 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Through the years Wanda Sykes and Shaquille O'Neal during Behind The Scenes: Shaquille O'Neal And Wanda Sykes Shop Small With American Express on October 31, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images for American Express) (Lachlan Cunningham)
Through the years Miami Heat president Pat Riley speaks during a ceremony to honor Shaquille O'Neal as he has his number retired during a game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Through the years Former Los Angeles Lakers player Shaquille O'Neal reacts to his former players seated in the audience with Kobe Bryant looking on during the unveiling of his statue at Staples Center March 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal and Breckin Meyer attend the Turner Upfront 2017 arrivals on the red carpet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal at the American Express Fan Experience at NBA All-Star Weekend 2018 on February 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for American Express) (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for American Expres)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal attends the 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal attends the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson Of The Year 2019 at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on December 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year 2019) (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Sports Illustra)
Through the years Shaquille O'Neal demos Amazon Alexa in the Lamborghini Huracan Evo during the Amazon After Hours during CES 2020 at The Venetian Las Vegas on January 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Amazon Devices and Services) (Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Amazon Devices )
Through the years Shaquille O’Neal performs as DJ Diesel at The SHAQ Bowl for Super Bowl LV on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) (Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)
Through the years Shaq poses with kids at a Shaq-A-Claus and Pepsi Stronger Together surprise for an Atlanta school with toys & treats on December 20, 2021 in McDonough, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Pepsi Stronger Together) (DEREK WHITE/Getty Images for Pepsi Stronger )