NBA Hall of Famer and one of the most famous basketball players in the world, Shaquille O’Neal, hasn’t always had it easy.
As an 18-year-old getting ready for his high school prom, his father had to ask around to find a pair of size 18 smart shoes for his son to wear, according to CNN News.
But an act of kindness he never forgot meant that when he heard about the family of a 13-year-old who were struggling to buy shoes for their growing son, he stepped in with a gesture that blew them away.
When retired U.S. basketball star Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t find a pair of size 18 penny loafers to wear to his school prom, a local shoe store owner stepped in.
Bruce Teilhaber, owner of Friedman’s Shoes in Atlanta, generously gave O’Neal a free pair of shoes.
O’Neal, who grew to size 22 shoe, has never forgot his kindness and has been buying from him ever since, according to CNN News.
So when O’Neal heard about Atlanta teen Zach Keith who was experiencing a similar issue he had to step in.
At just 13 years old Zach is already a size 18 shoe and his mom struggles to keep new shoes on his growing feet.
When Shaquille heard about the needy teen he had to step in and surprised Zach and his family at Friedman’s shoe store.
The basketball legend didn’t just buy him one pair but 10 pairs of shoes!
“Like, whoa,” Zach told CNN affiliate WGCL. “He wants to buy me shoes, out of all people?”
“This will help a lot,” mom Brittany Keith said. “I won’t so much have to worry about buying him dress shoes. He hasn’t had a pair of dress shoes in about four or five years because its been hard trying to find the ones that actually fit.
“And for me it was just, it was very touching, very heartfelt and to know that there’s somebody out there that has his back.”
Find out more about this heartwarming story in the clip below.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZOsvPKsOkU” /]
I love seeing celebrities using their fame and fortune to help others. What a generous spirit Shaq has.
Please share this story and help bring a smile to the faces of others.
