The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and Icy Hot® Award 23 High Schools Hit Hard By COVID-19 With Financial Assistance

Shaquille O’Neal’s The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and Icy Hot® have announced the winners of the Get Game Ready grants.

Back in September, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported about the Get Game Ready program. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation was going to issue grants to help with financial aid to the school sports programs that are in need of assistance due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Between Sept. 25 and Oct. 31, 136 public high schools from across the nation had applied for the program requesting varying amounts of money for a wide range of needs, including personal protective equipment (PPE), uniforms, reusable water bottles, transportation costs, and sports gear.

“For student-athletes, sports are a vital physical, mental, and social outlet, and it’s devastating to have something that fundamental taken away. We know how crucial athletics are, which is why we are so honored for the opportunity to work with Icy Hot and give back to schools and students,” O’Neal said in a written statement. “I really feel for all the kids who have had to cope with that challenge on top of the stress and isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why I wanted to do something to help.”

“Increased risk for injury due to reduced physical activity, mental health concerns, and pandemic protocols are all new challenges that student-athletes are likely to face when they are able to return to sport,” said NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC. “It is critical that schools have appropriate resources and athletic trainer-led health care ready to help student-athletes, coaches, and parents navigate an uncertain but vital time. We are proud to work alongside The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, supported by Icy Hot, to help provide schools with resources imperative for a safer return to sport.”

The 23 recipients of Get Game Ready grants are:

Ashland High School — Ashland, Miss.
Bay High School — Panama City, Fla.
Bonanza High School — Las Vegas, Nev.
Booker T. Washington High School — Atlanta, Ga.
Carver High School – Atlanta, Ga.
C.E. Murray High School — Greeleyville, S.C.
Coliseum College Prep Academy — Oakland, Calif.
Desert Pines High School — Las Vegas, Nev.
Dougherty Comprehensive High School — Albany, Ga.
Galena High School — Galena, Mo.
Hancock Central High School — Sparta, Ga.
Hopi Junior Senior High School — Keams Canyon, Ariz.
John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science — Roxbury, Mass.
Lower Lake High School — Lower Lake, Calif.
McDonough High School — McDonough, Ga.
Miramar High School — Miramar, Fla.
Mountainair Public School — Mountainair, N.M.
Pateros High School — Pateros, Wash.
Phineas Banning High School — Wilmington, Calif.
Rancho High School — Las Vegas, Nev.
South Atlanta High School – Atlanta, Ga.
Warren Easton Charter High School — New Orleans, La.
Woodland Hills High School — Pittsburgh, Pa.

To learn more about The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, visit ShaqFoundation.org.

For more information about the NATA, visit NATA.org.

To learn more about the Get Game Ready grant program, visit IcyHot.com/GetGameReady.