In Miami’s Overtown, hope doesn’t come easy, but it never stops trying. For years, Alonzo Mourning has poured himself into building something that could outlast the roar of arenas. A place where kids are seen, heard, and given a shot. It’s a nonprofit tucked in the heart of Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, the Overtown Youth Center (OYC). Brick by brick, block by block, the work has never stopped. But even the strongest foundations need a lift sometimes. And recently, a powerful hand, unexpected, but deeply intentional, reached in to carry the weight alongside him

Stepping in to lend a hand is none other than Rita Case, whose Rick Case Automotive Group has been a pillar in the car dealership world since 1962, when it first launched in Akron, Ohio. Under Rita Case—the group’s president and CEO, and a self-made entrepreneur with a $200 million portfolio—Rick Case Automotive remains a leading philanthropic force.

Community News reports Case donated a 2024 Chevy Silverado to help staff transport supplies across the 56,000-square-foot campus. A small act? Maybe relative to their wealth. But one with a big purpose. “I am inspired by OYC’s mission and the positive impact they have on the youth and community of this Miami neighborhood,” said Case. “It is my pleasure to hand these keys to Alonzo, and I hope this truck helps the center run more efficiently.”

Mourning and developer Martin Z. Margulies launched OYC in 2003 as a safe haven for Overtown’s underserved youth. And with people like Case joining hands, its mission only grows stronger. “We are deeply grateful to Rita Case for the generous donation of a Chevrolet Silverado to OYC Miami. In these challenging philanthropic times, contributions like this are more than gifts—they are investments in our mission,” said Tina Brown, CEO of Mourning Family Foundation – OYC & Honey Shine.

Now, this is not the first instance that Mourning has accepted external help. In fact, he has even joined hands with one of his superstar teammates to improve the youth center in Miami.

Alonzo Mourning joined forces with Shaquille O’Neal for a higher purpose off the court

Back in 2006, Mourning and O’Neal helped make history for Miami, clinching the city’s first-ever NBA championship. Fast forward to 2022, and the duo found themselves side by side again—but this time, their mission extended far beyond basketball. In a powerful show of unity and purpose, they joined forces to uplift the Overtown Youth Center in Miami.

The initiative was part of an ambitious $20 million investment that also brought a new charter school to the facility—an expansion designed to impact generations to come. At the heart of the project sits the third “Comebaq Court,” funded jointly by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and Icy Hot, following earlier installations in Las Vegas and Newark. The Foundation’s $90,000 contribution helped outfit the new indoor court with professional-grade flooring, hoops, and lighting, ensuring Miami’s youth enjoy the same quality environment as the pros.

Mourning, who originally opened the center in 2003, took it to the next level, growing the facility from 18,000 to 56,000 square feet. It could now host up to 2,000 people at once, offering all its programs free of charge through generous corporate partnerships. For Mourning, who first opened OYC in 2003 with Martin Z. Margulies, this expansion was personal.

“Having Shaq as a voice for this program and him advocating for what we do here, that helps us continue to expand and grow. And this is something I want to replicate across South Florida and beyond,” Mourning told WSVN 7 News. “There is so many other communities who are in desperate need.”

As Mourning passionately shared, “My responsibility is to use the blessings I was given to bless other people.” And echoing the sentiment to some extent is now Rita Case alongside the former Heat star.