Shaq Packs Blessings in a Backpack

Shaquille O’Neal hosted an exclusive charity event on October 2, supporting the Vera Bradley and Blessings in a Backpack tour at the Oakland Elementary School in McDonough, Ga.

At the event, Shaq told the entire student body — 771 kids — to follow their dreams, and gave them all new Vera Bradley backpacks that included weekend food. The kids also enjoyed a carnival of back-to-school festivities with Shaq. There was a lot of fun to be had!

Because of this event, Blessings in a Backpack started a program at Oakland Elementary, providing hunger-free weekends for 50 kids this school year.

Over the next month, Vera Bradley and Blessings in a Backpack will work together to provide new backpacks and weekend food for children across the country. The events will raise awareness of the 13 million children living in food-insecure homes across America.

In addition to the backpack and food distribution, Vera Bradley launched a fundraising campaign in stores and at VeraBradley.com to support Blessings in a Backpack in providing children with food for the weekends throughout the school year, matching funds raised up to $50,000.

Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Vera Bradley.