“I’m proud to support each of these organizations”: How Caitlin Clark honored Iowa with four $22,000 grants, including one inspired by her private hospital visits

Caitlin Clark’s Iowa journey gave her some of the biggest moments of her basketball career, but the community also gave her memories that had little to do with scoring records or packed arenas. During her time with the Hawkeyes, Clark built personal connections with several Iowa organizations, including the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, where she regularly spent time with young patients and their families.Ahead of her No. 22 jersey retirement in February 2025, Clark found a personal way to give back. Her foundation announced four $22,000 grants to Iowa organizations that had made an impact on her during her college years. The donations showed that Clark wanted her Iowa legacy to include the people and communities who had supported her away from the basketball court. Caitlin Clark turned personal Iowa memories into four $22,000 grantsThe idea for the four grants came directly from CaitlinClark in the weeks leading up to her jersey retirement. According to the Caitlin Clark Foundation, she called home and asked how she could give back in a way that felt meaningful and personal. She wanted to recognize the Iowa community that had supported her throughout her college career, and the four organizations she selected each carried a different connection to her journey.The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital received one of the $22,000 grants, and that donation had a particularly personal connection. Clark had made regular, often private visits to the hospital during her years as a student-athlete. She met young patients and their families, offering them encouragement during difficult moments. However, the Foundation said Clark often walked away from those visits feeling just as encouraged and inspired by the children she had met.Those visits became some of Clark’s most cherished experiences away from basketball. That makes the grant more than another charitable contribution connected to her name. It reflected a relationship she had developed during her time in Iowa City and the impression those young patients had left on her.The other three recipients also had meaningful links to Caitlin Clark. She had personally supported the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor earlier in her career and understood how important it was for children to have a safe and encouraging place to learn and grow. Special Olympics Iowa-East Central became another important connection through Clark’s friendship and mentorship with Debbie Antonelli, whose work with Special Olympics inspired her involvement.The Coralville Community Food Pantry held an even earlier connection. It was where Clark began her own journey of giving back, learning through those experiences that something as simple as helping provide a meal could make a difference in someone’s day and potentially their future. Caitlin Clark wanted her Iowa connection to continueCaitlin Clark made it clear that her relationship with Iowa City was about more than the years she spent wearing an Iowa jersey. She wanted to remain connected to the community that had supported her as her career continued to grow.“One of my favorite things about Iowa City is the way the community is connected and how everyone supports each other,” Clark said. “It’s something I felt deeply during my time here, and it’s something I want to stay connected with for the rest of my life.”The WNBA star also shared a simple message about the organizations receiving the grants.“I’m proud to support each of these organizations and the meaningful impact they make for the people of Iowa,” Clark said.Caitlin Clark Foundation president Mary Coffin also highlighted the impact behind Clark’s involvement, saying, “Caitlin is an example for all of us on the impact one interaction can have and the legacy of uplifting others.”The four grants were announced on Jan, 2025, only days before Iowa retired Clark’s No. 22 jersey. While that ceremony celebrated her remarkable career on the court, the grants offered another look at the legacy she was building away from basketball, especially through the private moments she shared with the Iowa community.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.