Titus O’Neil‘s work will continue whether he wins the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award or not, but he’s still grateful for even be considered for the honor.
In an interview with Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN News, O’Neil explained why he feels humbled to be named as a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for the second consecutive year.
“This is the second year in a row that I’ve been named a finalist,” said O’Neil. “Not many people can say that. That in itself shows that the work that not only those guys are doing but what I’m doing is consistent. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the outcome is. But at the end of the day, the work is still continuing just like I did last year, even though I came up short of being the big prize winner.
“I think we all were great prize winners because our platforms were given an opportunity to be shown in a way in which sports and entertainment sometimes, I think, people take for granted. The work that so many athletes and entertainers put in behind closed doors and the significance that they make in their respective communities.”
O’Neil also reflected on his personal and professional journey and noted that he has been doing humanitarian work since high school. He expressed his gratitude for his Global Ambassador role with WWE and called it a “stamp of approval” from the company.
“I can’t say that I would have predicted that I will be a two-time finalist for the Sports Humanitarian Award,” said O’Neil. “But I can tell you that I’m not surprised at the fact that the work that I’ve done is getting this type of spotlight because I’ve been doing it for years. I’ve been doing it since high school. I always say consistency is the key to breakthrough. That’s with any and everything that you’re doing in life. I just feel like I’ve been doing this for so long, with the right heart, the right mindset, and in a different way. I don’t believe in transactional engagements. I believe in transformational moments and situations where we can put people in a situation to not just get a gift for Christmas but also get a job, get a high school diploma, get a trade, get a home, get a car. These underserved families that we get a chance to serve on a consistent basis.
“I’m a very grateful man. I’m very fortunate to be part of this company, especially when it’s not something I set out to do 12 years ago. I think that being labeled as a Global Ambassador is a stamp of approval from every single person in the office, especially Vince McMahon.”
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