𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 $𝟯.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆………..

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 $𝟯.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆………..

West Lafayette, IN —In a powerful act of compassion and community leadership, Purdue University men’s basketball head coach **Matt Painter** has announced a **\$3.6 million personal investment** to transform a historic house near campus into a **shelter for homeless youth**. The announcement has sparked admiration across the sports world and is being hailed as a rare and impactful example of a coach using their platform to drive real change.

The initiative, titled Boilermaker Haven, aims to provide not only housing, but also emotional support, educational tools, and career preparation for local homeless and at-risk youth. This marks one of the most generous individual contributions ever made by a Division I head coach toward youth homelessness.

Painter, known nationally for building Purdue into a perennial basketball powerhouse, made the announcement during a press conference at Mackey Arena. What many expected to be an off-season update turned into a moving moment of civic dedication.

“Basketball is what I do, but this is about who we are,” Painter told reporters. “These kids need stability, love, and a shot at something better. I want to be part of the solution.

The coach, who has spent nearly two decades leading the Boilermakers, said the project had been in development for over a year. After learning of the rising rates of youth homelessness in Tippecanoe County and the lack of comprehensive local shelters, Painter began working with community leaders and social services to build something lasting.

The Boilermaker Haven shelter will be located within walking distance of Purdue’s campus and will offer a wide range of support services. Renovations are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with a goal of opening the shelter by early 2026

Painter emphasized that this isn’t just a shelter — it’s a **second chance center** designed to help youth rebuild their lives and pursue college, trade work, or stable employment.

The announcement was met with widespread support from the Purdue community and far beyond. **University President Mung Chiang** praised Painter’s vision, calling the shelter “a transformative act of humanity” and “a proud moment for Purdue.

Former players, local officials, and even opposing coaches took to social media to commend Painter. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas tweeted, *“Matt Painter has always done things the right way. Today, he showed us what true leadership looks like.

In a time when big salaries and flashy deals dominate college athletics headlines, Painter’s decision to give back in such a meaningful way is being viewed as a blueprint for how coaches can lead with heart.

While Matt Painter has already built a strong basketball legacy — including multiple Big Ten titles, NCAA tournament runs, and NBA-caliber player development — this act could prove to be his most meaningful.

This is a different kind of victory,” Painter said. “Every kid who walks through that door deserves hope. If we can offer that, then we’re doing something far greater than winning games.

In an era where many sports figures are criticized for staying silent on social issues, Matt Painter’s \$3.6 million commitment stands as a resounding message: leadership is about more than just results. It’s about people.

With Boilermaker Haven Painter is proving that coaching doesn’t stop at the court — it extends to the community, to the vulnerable, and to the future.

As Purdue fans and citizens around the country applaud the decision, one thing is clear: Matt Painter just made one of the biggest assists of his life — off the court.