LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Ali Center announced its recipients of the 11th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, and a huge NBA star will be receiving the biggest award this year.
Shaquille O'Neal was named the 2024 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year. He is considered to be one of the most dominant basketball players in NBA history. O'Neal played for six teams throughout his impressive 19-year career and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
The 7-foot, 1-inch tall athlete earned the 1999–2000 MVP award, the 1992–93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, 14 All-NBA team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He is also one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year.
Off the court, O'Neal has dedicated himself to philanthropy, raising millions of dollars for charity. He is a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and a member of the national Board of Directors for Communities in Schools.
In 2019, Shaquille established The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation aims to create pathways for underserved youth to help them achieve their full potential.
O'Neal is one of four people to be honored with one of the "seasoned" awards, honoring individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to humanitarianism.
Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Ala., is receiving the 2024 Muhammad Ali Lifetime Achievement Award, Iconic songwriter and philanthropist Nile Rogers will be honored with the Global Citizen Award, and Louisville-native and Emmy-award winning journalist Dawne Gee is receiving the Kentucky Humanitarian Award.
Joining the seasoned awardees will be six young international humanitarians doing work which embodies one of Muhammad Ali's six core principals: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality. Deja Foxx, Sophia Kianni, Shah Chowdhury and Mohammad Yasir, Lianna Genovese, Richa Gupta and Charlot Magayi will be honored with a Six Core Principals Award.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award ceremony will be Saturday, Nov. 9. For more information on the awardees and the event, click here.