Shaquille O’Neal Drops $20K So Mom Can See John Legend, Jennifer Hudson

Shaquille O’Neal spent $20,000 so his mother could see John Legend and Jennifer Hudson from her stage seats. According to PEOPLE, the former NBA player hosted his annual gala at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand. Shaq contributed to the live auction, which won his mother, Lucille O’Neal, an onstage table to view Legend, Hudson, Dan+Shay, and Anderson .Paak.

On Saturday (Oct. 7), the Los Angeles Laker legend hit Instagram to thank John for showing love to his foundation. “Best you ever had @johnlegend thanks brother,” he typed.

The fundraising affair dubbed “THE EVENT” was the third iteration. O’Neal’s “Shaq-tie affair” is “a night that’s both elegantly formal and fabulously fun, where every guest can enjoy a gourmet meal, participate in a live auction, and party the night away with a star-studded concert,” the official website explains.

O’Neal’s Foundation looked to raise money to continue their efforts in assisting “underserved youth.” “The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation creates pathways for underserved youth to help them achieve their full potential,” the mission statement reads. “The Foundation works to instill hope and bring about change in communities, collectively shaping a brighter future for our children.”

The multihyphenate’s fundraiser also featured Joel McHale on hosting duties and an appearance from comedic great Ray Romano. Previous iterations of the gala featured performances and appearances from Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Andra Day, H.E.R., Imagine Dragon, Jimmy Kimmel, Maroon 5, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, and more.

The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation was established in 2019. Since then, the entertainer’s organization has launched numerous capital projects and annual programs. These projects include Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, Comebaq Court at Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club, Shaq Courts at Doolittle, Boulder Highway Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, and his Shaq-to-School and Shaq-a-Claus events.

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