Zach Randolph helps keep the lights on for low-income families in Memphis

Zach Randolph has become an almost mythical figure since he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009. The Grizzlies have made it to the playoffs every year but his first in Memphis and Randolph’s contributions off the court have been just as impressive as his play on it.

Z-Bo proved the former yet again on Monday by donating $20,000 to more than 100 lower-income families in the Memphis area.

https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/823645287906299904

Here is what the team wrote about it on Grizzlies.com:

"Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph announced today a $20,000 contribution to MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association) to keep utilities connected for over 100 Memphis-area families."

Randolph’s donation will go directly to the MIFA Emergency Services Plus-1 program. Plus-1 is a program administered by MIFA to pay utility services for people in need.

This is Randolph’s seventh year contributing to MIFA and MLGW. His donation will be used to cover the cost of utility payments for more than 100 households on the verge of service disruption in the Memphis-area.

The family in the video the Grizzlies tweeted out was one of the two families that Randolph visited to tell the good news, and it warms the heart to watch. Randolph’s transformation since the “Jail Blazers” drafted him is pretty remarkable. He is now one of the most likable big men in the game if only for the fact that he looks like someone stuck a giant headband on the Pillsbury doughboy.

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Acts like this remind us that NBA players can be major influences in our society. Good on Z-Bo and may #GritNGrind live forever.