Community Corner
Marlborough Youth Presents Shaq with Boy Scout Honor
Shaquille O'Neal received the 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award from Knox Trail Council of Boy Scouts of America on Monday, April 4.
The Boston Celtic's number 36, center Shaquille “Shaq” O'Neal, was honored at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel this past Monday during a Knox Trail Council Boy Scouts of America fund-raising dinner, “Fun with Shaq."
One of the Cub Scouts presenting the award to O'Neal was Justin Campbell of Marlborough. Campbell is a fifth grader at the Whitcomb School, a member of Cub Scout Pack 31, and will be a member of of Boy Scout Troop 2 in the fall of 2011. Campbell's grandfather, Alan Williamson, is a lifelong Scout and member of the Knox Trail Executive Board.
"It was a real honor to meet him," said Campbell. "Shaq is a really good person, he gives a lot to charity and he helps people."
Find out what's happening in Marlboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The City of Marlborough is a member of the Tri-River District of the Council's territory. This time the recognition went beyond his NBA talents, however, as O'Neal was the recipient of Boy Scouts' 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award.
This prestigious, annual award is given to an individual who not only excels in his or her career, but has also achieved an extraordinary level of personal leadership. These qualities go hand-in-hand with the Boy Scout Oath that says:
Find out what's happening in Marlboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
O'Neal has excelled in his NBA career without a doubt. In the year 2000, for example, he was only one of three players ever to win MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP.
O'Neal rents a home in Sudbury and is well-known in the NBA as an active member in his community. The Real Model Foundation, one of his charities, helps the homeless and children, and O'Neal has said that he puts money into this organization from his own pocket.
Campbell was especially struck by O'Neil's kindness to one of the guests at the dinner.
"There was a lady at the dinner who had brain cancer," he said. "He got her free tickets to the dinner and went over to her table too."
