Shaq and a host of NBA players invite you to join millions of Americans volunteering on Make A Difference Day Oct. 23.

I like to have fun, and I like to smile. And I really like to see other people smile.

There are a couple of ways to do that. One way is by joking, and I can crack jokes. Another way is by giving back. My parents taught me: If you can help someone, do it. Why? Because it's the right thing to do.

My dad, Phil, is a great role model. He was in the Army, and he was a disciplinarian. He also is a very kind man.

There were many times I witnessed that kindness. I like to tell three stories from my childhood that had an impact on me.

When I was a kid and my dad was coaching my basketball team, a teammate broke his leg and ended up in the hospital. My father canceled the next practice, and not only did we visit our teammate at the hospital, we took the time to visit all the sick kids in the ward.

Another time, my father came home and told us to go get all of our old blankets and clothes. When we'd finished, he said, “Let's go.”

He called other soldiers, asked for donations, and we filled an entire moving truck and delivered the goods to a Salvation Army homeless shelter.

The last story is smaller, but meaningful.

We didn't have a lot of extra money growing up. For a treat one day, my dad took me to a burger place. He, like me, is a big guy. He ordered six double cheeseburgers. I wanted to match him so I ordered six, too. After the third one, we'd both had enough. As we were driving home, my dad saw a man with a sign that read “Army veteran, will work for food.”

My dad stopped, asked the man for his unit number and then said: “Bro, I ain't got much, but I've got a couple of burgers, and here's 10 bucks.”

Those experiences have remained with me my entire life, and I have passed those lessons on to my six children.

When they receive a new toy, they have to donate five. They have been with me at toy drives and have seen firsthand the joy that giving brings other children.

Some of my personal initiatives include Shaq-A-Claus, which I started during my rookie season with the Orlando Magic in 1992-93. My mom, Lucille, told me about some kids in a homeless shelter who would not get gifts that Christmas. So I formed a partnership with Toys R Us. They donated $30,000 worth of toys; I bought another $30,000 worth.