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Shaq Promotes Heart Health at Spirit of the Heart Gala

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) recently hosted its 10th Annual Spirit of the Heart Awards Gala. Their special guest and honorary chair was NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. The four-time NBA Champion partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine senior associate dean of clinical and transitional research Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH and Arbor Pharmaceuticals, to create the Get Real About Heart Failure campaign.

Published

7 years ago

October 28, 2019

Oakland Post

NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal was an honorary Chair of the Spirit of the Heart Awards Gala (Photo by: Amanda Scurlock | L.A. Sentinel)

By Amanda Scurlock

The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) recently hosted its 10^th Annual Spirit of the Heart Awards Gala. Their special guest and honorary chair was NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

ABC founder Richard Allen Williams, MD (second to left) poses with Loni Love (center) and former ABC board chair Robert Gillespie MD (second to right) (Photo by: Amanda Scurlock | L.A. Sentinel)

The four-time NBA Champion partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine senior associate dean of clinical and transitional research Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH and Arbor Pharmaceuticals, to create the Get Real About Heart Failure campaign.

“I wanted to be the guy that brings awareness to the situation because I know how most adult males, especially African American men, think like me,” O’Neal said. “I just want to urge people to go out there and get checked once a year.”

Ofili noted the major issues of heart failure is that doctors do not prescribe patients with the proper medicine to combat the condition and how the medicine might be too expensive for patients. She then explained the website Shaqgetsreal.com as a resource for people who want to know more about the disease.

“You will find a lot of information not just about understanding heart failure from the perspective of a patient, but also learning how to talk to your physician and advocate,” Ofili said. “I think that’s the message that we want to put out there is every single one of us should learn about this and advocate.”

ABC also honored Golf legend Lee Elder with the 2019 Bob Jones Award. As well as being the first African American to make the Ryder Cup Team and to play in the Masters Tournament, he held an afterschool program at the Langston Golf Course in Washington D.C.

ABC works ardently to combat cardiovascular diseases in marginalized communities with their initiatives and projects. While there have been advancements in treatment to different diseases, people of color and those with low income are not given access to said treatments.

The organization not only trains patients, but physicians as well; they inform how a patient’s living conditions, methods of travel, and type of insurance are factors that could stifle their access to proper care.

When asked about the condition of his son, Shareef, O’Neal reassured that he is doing well since his open-heart surgery last year. Shareef was diagnosed with an anomalous coronary artery, a condition that causes an artery to grow in the wrong place.

ABC president John M. Fontaine MD, MBA (l) poses with ABC Board Chair Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH(Photo by: Amanda Scurlock | L.A. Sentinel)

“He had a heart condition when he was younger, they called it “boom boom.” So, we fixed it,” O’Neal said. “He was playing one day, he said he said he had another episode of the boom boom so I sent to UCLA medical, they found something was wrong … we talked about the options and he wanted to continue to play, so he went through the surgery and he’s fine now.”

During the gala, ABC honored the Sanofi Genzyme-Regeneron Aliance, UCLA professor and cardiologist Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, Caribbean Foundation Heart Institute President B. Waine Kong, PhD, JD, and “Greenleaf” star Lamman Rucker.

“We do have a disproportionate access to quality care, yes there are a disproportionate number of us as people of color who are dying of diabetes and hypertension,” Rucker said. “I don’t know how to not care … and if you do care, then the next thing to do is to actually take action and do something about it.”

This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel.

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

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Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.