Lil Baby, retired NBA star Stephen Jackson and more stepped up to throw Gianna Floyd a birthday party on Wednesday (Dec. 16), months after the 7-year-old lost her father, George Floyd, to police violence. According to Forbes, Baby funded the festivities, which included a socially distant L.O.L dolls-themed party at Atlanta’s Pink Hotel. TMZ reports that Gianna was able to get her hair and nails done with friends, pose for a picture with Lil Baby and enjoy tons of colorful decorations and food.
Along with Lil Baby and Jackson; Shaquille O’Neal and the children of Baby, Future and Rayshard Brooks were also invited. The event was organized by Floyd family friends Ericka and William Platt, who own Restaurant Ten and Rosie’s Café. Ericka, whose daughter’s father passed away 17 years ago, works philanthropically to support other children who have lost their parents to violence.
“There are a lot of children who are suffering and are traumatized,” Platt told Forbes. “We have to continue to support them after the headlines and attention disappears.”
Platt also praised Lil Baby’s role in the party, saying his song “The Bigger Picture,” is “really about supporting children who lost their parents to violence.”
“Lil Baby decided to sponsor Gianna’s birthday party and has been very supportive,” she added. “We are very grateful for that.”
Gianna’s mother, Roxie Washington, was also thankful for the support.
“This is a very difficult time for my daughter, so we’re very grateful that our extended family is creating such a special experience for Gianna on her first birthday without her father,” she said.
Jackson vowed to be a father figure to Gianna after the death of his good friend, Floyd.
“I think I adopted another child; God put me into this position,” he told Forbes. “I’m going to do the best that I can.”
The former Los Angeles Clippers player was a leader over the summer in the nationwide Justice for Floyd protest movement.
“I have dedicated my life to going to all 50 states and visiting areas that need resources and letting them know they have a voice,” he said. “When I went to Minnesota to speak up for my brother, I inherited other people’s pain, who lost loved ones to police brutality and racism or who do not have a voice to speak.”
See photos from Gianna’s birthday celebration below.