Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is giving back to the community by covering utility payments for 100 families in need of utility assistance.

Today, Randolph will host a ceremony with representatives from MIFA and MLGW to launch the newly-founded Zach Randolph Community Assistance Fund at 3:30 p.m. in the Main Lobby at MIFA (910 Vance Ave. Memphis, TN 38126) before visiting two families who will benefit from his generosity.

“It’s time I do this. It’s important to help single-parent families and families in need, because I was one of them, and I can relate to it,” said Randolph.

For the past four years the NBA standout has donated $20,000 to Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) to be allocated to families in the Memphis area as part of MLGW’s Plus-1 Program. Funded by MLGW customers through one-time donations or by adding a dollar or more to their utility bill each month, the Plus-1 program is administered by MIFA to pay utility services for MLGW customers on the verge of service disruption in the Memphis-area.

Since its inception in 1982, Plus-1 has provided nearly $15 million in utility assistance to families in crisis in Memphis and Shelby County.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 420,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.