The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation Unveils Plans for a Future CIS Alumni Center for Southern Nevada

NBA Hall of Famer and Communities In Schools® (CIS®) National Board of Directors Member Shaquille O’Neal recently announced an exciting development for youth on the northeast side of Las Vegas. During a press conference on July 10, Shaq, alongside local leaders and dignitaries, unveiled plans for a groundbreaking collaborative facility set to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada (CIS of Southern Nevada). Shaq, founder of the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, is a Boys & Girls Clubs of America alumnus and was inducted into the organization’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000. 

The multi-million-dollar facility will span over 17,000 square feet and house the country’s first-ever CIS Alumni Center. The clubhouse will provide youth in grades K-12 with the academic, social, emotional, recreational, and tech resources needed for youth development. The CIS Alumni Center is dedicated to serving former CIS students, helping them to further navigate and succeed in their personal, academic, and professional lives. 

"This new youth center in northeast Las Vegas will be a beacon of support for our Communities In Schools alumni, offering career development resources, job search assistance, professional learning, mentorship opportunities, and more,” said Debbie Palacios, Executive Director of CIS of Southern Nevada. “We are grateful for the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and our community’s support for this first-of-its-kind center that will enhance our longstanding partnership with Boys & Girls Club and our shared mission of helping youth reach their fullest potential.” 

Following the press conference, hundreds of Clark County School District students identified by CIS of Southern Nevada and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada participated in the annual “Shaq-to-School” event, where they received custom Shaq-packs filled with school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year. CIS of Southern Nevada will serve more than 75,000 students at 80-plus K-12 schools throughout Clark County during the coming school year. 

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