Giving Back: Epson Partners with Shaquille O’Neal on Give Back Program for LA Schools

Global electronics manufacturer Epson Corp. announces its partnership with former NBA great Shaquille O’Neal on a program that provides tech donations to Los Angeles-area middle school students. The effort is a collaboration with Communities In Schools (CIS) of Los Angeles, an organization that connects students with adults and community resources designed to help them succeed.

Joined by Epson CEO Keith Kratzberg, O’Neal visited Daniel Webster Middle School to hear students talk about their career aspirations. The event included questions about their time in school, mentors, and advice on future careers, as well as Epson product demos. The day also featured a school-wide pep rally, followed by Kratzberg and O’Neal recognizing school department heads.

“I believe that technology can take education to another level for kids, making it an exciting and fun experience,” says O’Neal. “The kids at Daniel Webster Middle School are definitely on the right track with big hopes and dreams, and I’m excited to share tech tools to help them reach those goals.”

According to the company, the Epson and Shaq Give Back program aims to provide a “transformative learning environment to help expand students’ imaginations, inspire career dreams, and motivate them to dream big using Epson technology.” As part of the visit, Epson donated multiple pieces of equipment, including all-in-one printers and projectors.

“Listening to the students at Daniel Webster Middle School reminded me how important it is to dream big and that anything is possible,” says Kratzberg. “Technology in the classroom can enhance the learning process and provide new ways of expression, giving students the opportunity to do more than they thought possible. Epson strives to support environments that inspire students and teachers to enjoy learning and teaching, and we are thrilled to provide this to the CIS of Los Angeles family.”

The event comes as the latest move in the company’s partnership with the NBA Hall of Famer. In July 2019, Epson and O’Neal officially announced the launch of a partnership, which includes a promotional campaign with O’Neal and community outreach initiatives through the Epson and Shaq Give Back program.