Breaking: As part of the Oklahoma Sooners Youth Aftercare Program, Alyssa Brito of the Oklahoma Sooners Softball team invests $3.6 million to turn a house into a shelter for homeless youth.

In a bold and compassionate move that transcends the boundaries of sport, Oklahoma Sooners softball standout Alyssa Brito has announced a $3.6 million personal investment into the construction of a shelter for homeless youth. The project, which will be executed under the broader umbrella of the Oklahoma Sooners Youth Aftercare Program, represents one of the most significant philanthropic gestures by a current NCAA student-athlete in recent memory.

The shelter, to be named The Haven House, will be located in Norman, Oklahoma, and will serve as both a residential safe haven and a holistic development center for at-risk youth, particularly those aging out of the foster care system or facing transitional homelessness. Alyssa Brito, a senior leader and All-American on one of the most dominant teams in college softball history, says this effort is about “giving back something real, something lasting.”

Brito, a native of California who transferred to Oklahoma from Oregon, has always been known for her fire on the field—powerful swings, clutch hits, and fierce competitiveness. But behind that athlete’s persona is a young woman shaped by experiences and observations that planted a lifelong passion for youth advocacy.

“This is bigger than me,” Brito said at a press conference Monday morning held outside the Sooners’ Marita Hynes Field. “I’ve been blessed with so much. The platform I have—thanks to OU softball, to our coaches, to my family—it’s only worth something if I use it for people who don’t have one. These kids need help. They need dignity. They need someone who believes in their tomorrow.”

Brito’s voice cracked with emotion as she described her early volunteer work with at-risk youth in California and Oklahoma. “I’ve sat with girls who had nowhere to go after 18, whose belongings fit in one trash bag. That can’t be acceptable anymore.”

According to plans released with the announcement, The Haven House will be a 12-bedroom transitional shelter with wraparound services including counseling, workforce readiness programs, addiction recovery support, and educational resources. A full-time staff of licensed counselors, mentors, and vocational trainers will work in tandem to stabilize youth during what is often the most vulnerable period of their lives—post-foster care transition.

The home, which will be retrofitted from an existing 6,000-square-foot estate on the outskirts of Norman, will also include community gardens, private study areas, and trauma-informed living spaces designed in partnership with OU’s College of Social Work.

“Oklahoma is home now,” Brito said. “And if this is home for me, I want it to be a safe home for someone else.”

Brito’s personal investment—nearly $3.6 million—is going toward purchasing the estate, funding renovations, hiring staff, and providing at least three years of operating costs. The shelter will operate as a nonprofit entity and will later open to donations, but Brito emphasized she wanted the program to launch without delays caused by red tape or fundraising cycles.

“This is a direct investment into human potential,” she said. “No excuses. Just action.”

The Sooners Youth Aftercare Program (SYAP) was quietly formed in early 2024 as a collaborative initiative between Oklahoma Athletics, the OU School of Social Work, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Its aim: to leverage the leadership, visibility, and influence of student-athletes in solving some of the most persistent challenges facing Oklahoma youth.

“Alyssa’s project is the first major cornerstone of SYAP,” said Athletic Director Joe Castiglione. “She didn’t wait for someone else to lead. She walked into my office and said, ‘Let’s build something that lasts after I graduate.’ That kind of courage—financial, emotional, and moral—is rare. She’s changing what NIL can stand for: Not just Name, Image, and Likeness—but Nurture, Inspire, and Lead.”

Through SYAP, student-athletes are encouraged and supported to engage in meaningful service, partner with local advocacy groups, and develop sustainable community projects. While many athletes have participated in mentorship programs or charity drives, Brito’s commitment is groundbreaking in its scale and permanence.

Head Coach Patty Gasso called the investment “quintessential Alyssa.”

“She’s always been about more than softball. She leads with her soul,” Gasso said. “She hits home runs off the field, too.”

Alyssa Brito’s decision to use her NIL earnings in this way may come as a surprise to some, but those who know her say it’s the natural culmination of her values. Brito has been one of the most visible and marketable stars in college softball, securing partnerships with major brands such as Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and regional campaigns with Love’s Travel Stops.

In the past year alone, she reportedly earned close to $1 million in NIL income—impressive in any sport, but especially in women’s college softball, where players often struggle for parity in commercial recognition. Rather than spend her newfound income on luxuries or investments, Brito redirected it into a cause close to her heart.

“NIL has given me the power to do more than I ever imagined,” she said. “People talk about ‘getting the bag.’ Well, I got the bag—and I’m putting it where it counts.”

Brito’s bold use of NIL money has already sparked conversations across college athletics about athlete-led philanthropy. Social media has erupted with praise, including from pro athletes and celebrities. Former Sooners legend Jocelyn Alo tweeted: “This is legendary. Brito is the blueprint.”

The reaction from the local community has been overwhelmingly supportive. Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila called the announcement a “watershed moment” for the city.

“We’ve never seen anything quite like this,” Heikkila said. “A young woman, still in college, stepping up and addressing youth homelessness head-on—it’s unprecedented and deeply needed.”

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) confirmed that in the last fiscal year, more than 800 Oklahoma teens aged out of the foster system. Of those, nearly 200 experienced homelessness within 12 months.

“We need more partners like Alyssa Brito,” said Samantha Folsom, regional director at OKDHS. “Too many youth fall through the cracks. The Haven House is going to save lives.”

OU students and fellow athletes have already pledged their support, offering to help with renovation efforts and to volunteer when the shelter opens later this year. Brito hinted that she wants The Haven House to be more than just her legacy—it should become a shared mission.

“I want every Sooner athlete to know: this is yours too. Your ideas. Your heart. We can build a better world right here.”

As the softball season barrels toward the Women’s College World Series, Brito remains focused on both her game and her growing role as a changemaker. Her batting average sits near .400, and she leads the team in home runs and RBIs. But when asked how she wants to be remembered, it’s not the stats that come to mind.

“If you remember me just for my batting average, I didn’t do enough,” Brito said. “If you remember me because a kid got a bed, a hot meal, and a future—then I did something worth remembering.”

Coach Gasso echoed that sentiment.

“Championships are important. But what Alyssa is doing—this is eternal. This is what greatness really looks like.”

Construction on The Haven House is set to begin this summer, with doors expected to open by early 2026. OU officials have said they will work to ensure that the shelter maintains a direct pipeline to university support services, including counseling interns, student volunteers, and social work scholars.

Brito also revealed that she hopes to stay involved with The Haven House long after her playing days end.

“I don’t want to just cut a ribbon and leave,” she said. “This is going to be part of my life’s work.”

As for her softball future, Brito hasn’t ruled out pursuing a professional career or coaching. But for now, she’s balancing two missions: win a national title—and change the lives of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable youth.

Alyssa Brito’s $3.6 million investment in The Haven House is more than just an act of charity—it’s a redefinition of leadership in college athletics. In an age when athletes are more empowered than ever before, Brito has chosen to wield that power for healing, hope, and systemic change. Through her investment, she’s not only altering the trajectory of youth who have been abandoned or forgotten—she’s setting a new standard for what student-athletes can achieve off the field.

As Brito puts it: “If you’ve been given a platform, build something on it. Build something that stands after you’re gone.”

And now, thanks to Alyssa Brito, The Haven House will stand—for years, for youth, and for a legacy defined not by runs scored, but by lives saved.