Pistons’ Will Bynum pays electric bill for women’s shelters, hosting Thanksgiving dinners

Take a look outside today and you’ll likely feel the Winter weather creeping in. Thankfully, you’ll be able to go home and turn on your heater but that’s not an option for some, including two popular women’s shelters in the Chicago-area.

Both Clara’s House and Clara’s Place on Chicago’s southwest side were hit with hefty electric bills in recent months. The city did give the women’s shelters a break but it took an anonymous donor to keep the gas line turned on.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep the electric going – that is – until Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum stepped in and paid the electrify bill for both shelters, where he’ll also host a Thanksgiving dinner:

"Bynum, who once lived in Englewood and attended Crane High School, said his efforts go far beyond money."

"“This is bigger than just paying an electric bill and giving dinners to those in need, it is about me seeing a need and doing my part to help,” Bynum said. “I want the homeless and battered women who are living in the shelter to know there is someone who cares, that the situation can and will get better.”"

Make no mistake – Bynum wasn’t doing this for publicity. It’s likely his name would’ve never been brought up if not for Clara Kirk, founder of the West Englewood United Organization making mention of it.

Charitable tax deduction or not, with so many sad and disappointing stories coming out of professional sports, it’s nice to see something good take place.