OCALA, Fla. — When Sherita Graham was called by the manager of a Burlington Coat Factory over the weekend in Florida, she said she nearly passed out. When she got to the store, she met Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III, who had paid off her layaway bill, according to the Ocala StarBanner.
Gilbert had paid off 60 layaways in the days before Christmas.
Special story tonight from Marion County - former Trinity Catholic High School star and current @steelers LB @Ulysees_G5 paid off the layaway for about 60 families - thousands of dollars. Hear from one woman who says she will forever be grateful tonight on @WESH
— Stewart Moore (@Stewartmoore) December 25, 2019
He partnered with a nonprofit group, “Pay Away the Layaway” foundation, according to store officials.
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The Ocala StarBanner reported the amount Gilbert paid off may be more than $15,000, but store officials said they couldn’t give an exact dollar amount.
The store’s manager, Mark Shipman, called the event a special one.
“He is a good person," Shipman said. “You could tell he was doing it for the right reasons, out of the kindness of his heart.”
Gilbert was born in Ocala, Florida, and played college football at Akron. He was drafted 207th overall by the Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft after tying an Akron football record for the most games played. Gilbert was placed on injured reserve in November due to back issues.
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