Watch CBS News

Funeral Home Owner Offers To Pay Rent For Homeless JRW Player's Family

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The owners of a Chicago funeral home are offering to pay rent for a year to provide a home for the family of a Jackie Robinson West Little League player, after learning they are homeless.

Spencer Leak Jr., vice president of Leak & Sons Funeral Homes, said he heard about the plight of 12-year-old Jaheim Benton on his family on the radio on Friday, and wanted to help them, so Leak & Sons is offering to pay for a year of rent for Benton family.

"Little Jaheim is a superstar, and at least for the next year, he's not going to have to worry about where he lives," Leak said. "In my business I see sadness all the time. And I would just like to bring some happiness to a family."

Benton's mother told the Sun-Times the family has been living paycheck-to-paycheck, and has had to split up to stay with different relatives and friends since June.

According to the Sun-Times, the family's struggles started when Jaheim's mother had her hours cut back as a home care provider, because she lost three clients. That left her and her fiancé – Jaheim's father – unable to support the family on the income from their part-time jobs.

Jaheim, a member of the national champion Jackie Robinson West All-Stars, scored five runs in the team's seven games in the Little League World Series.

He's staying with his father at a friend's home in Auburn-Gresham.

On Friday, members of the JRW team were hosted by the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. at a dinner. Another special guest was Mo'Ne Davis, the female star pitcher for the Philadelphia Little League team.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.