Shaquille O’Neal Covers Expenses for North Carolina Family Who Lost 4 Young Daughters in House Fire

The home of Patrick Ellis and his five daughters caught on fire Aug. 30, claiming the lives of his four youngest girls

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Shaquille O’Neal on May 14, 2025 in New York City.Credit : Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Shaquille O’Neal is working with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office to cover expenses for a family in North Carolina who are grieving the deaths of four young girls.

The home of the Ellis family — father Patrick and his five daughters — in Chadbourne, N.C. caught fire on Aug. 30, leading to the deaths of his four youngest girls, Kalani Rae, Kendall Xaiya, Josephina Renee and Sophia Nachelle, who were between the ages of 2 and 7, according to Fox 5.

Patrick and his eldest daughter, Willow, 11, survived the fire.

After learning of their devastating loss, NBA legend O’Neal — who moonlights as the director of community relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, a position he’s held since 2021 — called Sheriff Reginald Scandrett offering to help.

“It touches every one of us parents, neighbors and human beings,” O’Neal said to Fox 5. “These were innocent lives full of promise, taken far too soon…this was not just a gesture of support, it was a moral responsibility.”

Kalani Rae, Kendall Xaiya, Josephina Renee, Sophia Nachelle.GoFundMe

O’Neal wanted to tell the family they “are not alone” in their pain. “We see you, we mourn with you and we’re here to help you carry this burden in any way that we can,” O’Neal said. “What I can offer is love, support, and a promise that their lives will not be forgotten.”

Sheriff Scandrett added, “It’s tragic beyond belief. Particularly being a father of two girls and two boys, this is unconscionable. The loss the Ellis family has endured is one that shakes us all to our core. Our goal is to remind them they do not walk this journey alone.”

The Sheriff’s Office said that the joint donation from their office and O’Neal “fully covers the expenses associated with honoring the girls, lifting the financial burden from the grieving family.”

O’Neal, often lauded for his incredible generosity, has “always had that heart,” said Scandrett. “He has a tremendous heart and that links with my heart. It’s, quite frankly, one of the reasons why we got together.”

A memorial service for the girls will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 with representatives from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in attendance to honor the sisters.

In a statement to the Chadbourne community on Sept. 4, the father Patrick thanked everyone for their support, WECT News reported. “Your compassion has been a comfort to us as we grieve the loss of my four children,” Patrick said. “Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we walk through this unimaginable loss.”

O’Neal’s touching gesture comes just after the four-time NBA champion surprised a young wrestler with a new car after he learned she was struggling to get to practice. Speaking to PEOPLE on Sept. 9, O’Neal said he feels called to help others. “People call it giving back. I just call it doing the right thing,” he said. “