One Bobcats player gave back to his community in a big way after a day of practice Sunday.

Brandan Haywood surprised 15 women at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope Women and Children’s Shelter by revealing he would pay their Duke Energy bills for one year.

The women are in a re-housing program that helps them move from a shelter to a house.

Haywood was raised in a single-parent home in Greensboro and thought this was a great way to give back to the community.

“I have my own fund/foundation set up to help single parents. So, this is a passion that I have and something a lot of people don’t know about me … that I have a soft spot in my heart for single mothers based on what I had to go through as a child,” Haywood said.

Heywood went on to play basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1997 to 2001.

At UNC, Haywood recorded the first triple-double in school history on Dec. 4, 2000 with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks against Miami.

He is the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in  blocked shots with 304.

Haywood was drafted 20th overall in the 2001 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bobcats claimed Haywood off waivers in July, 2012.