Posted on 11/26/2009 11:18:00 AM PST by Severa
Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl because he was moved by the tragic story of her kidnapping and murder.
"I was sitting at home watching it on the news and the story brought a tear to my eye," O'Neal told The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
The Cleveland Cavaliers player got in touch with the family to see what he could do to help, a spokeswoman for O'Neal said Thursday.
More than 2,000 people attended the girl's funeral Sunday. Her body was found Nov. 16 beside a rural road.
Her mother, Antoinette Davis, who had reported the child missing six days earlier, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill is charged with murder, rape and kidnapping. The link between them remains unclear.
Corey Breece, of Rogers and Breece Funeral Home, which handled the service, declined to tell the Fayetteville Observer newspaper how much it cost but added that a child's funeral "averages around $4,500."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Shaq, You probably won’t see this but I thank you. So does The Lord.
Shazam that’s a nice thing to do
This is the kind of VOLUNTEER work that Americans do. BO doesn’t now nor will he ever understand it. He’ll get his “forced servitude” programs and just piss everybody off.
God will reward Mr. O’Neal with another jewel in his heavenly crown. These are the stories we all need to hear more of...people doing for people. Not because of the glory, not because of the fame, not because we are forced, but because it is the RIGHT thing to do.
Very decent of him.
In another good news story, During the Lions/Green Bay pregame coverage, they showed a story of Green Bay's Charles Woodson who donated $2 million to Mott Childrens's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Mott is affilliated with U of M, Woodson's Alma Mater.........
Woodson frequently goes to the hospital to visit with the children there but he does it on his own because he doesn't like the media coverage. And he also participates in their fund raising events......
Shaq is a good guy.
Thank you, Shaq.
Well - thank God and thank you, Shaquille O’Neal!
A nice Thanksgiving vignette about a tragic and heinous crime.
Shaq, I am duly impressed. Good for you!
Shaq, this little girl’s sad story mad me feel the same way.
God Bless you, brother.
The Big Aristotle has a big heart.
Bless you Shaq and rest in peace little Shaniya.
Thank you to Shaq.
This is why it is good that no profession is limited in potential salary. People with wealth are moved to help others.
Shaq’s a big MAN!
This is not uncommon for Shaq.
A few years ago, he heard about a high school kid who was having trouble finding size 22 shoes. He gave the young man a bunch of his own shoes.
Goo job Severa,
Thanks and Happy Thanksgivings to you too.
And GOD bless.
Thanks, Shaq, for a truly noble act of caring!
Wow. Now I am crying.
God bless you Shaq.
Wow.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.