Back to school isn’t just about picking up pencils and erasers anymore. For 350 lucky students in Des Moines, it turned into a legendary meet-and-greet with none other than Iowa’s very own basketball superstar, Caitlin Clark. Imagine showing up for school supplies and leaving with selfies and slam dunks with the queen of the court herself!
“Caitlin Clark is not only one of the world’s most talented and best-known athletes, she is also a generous soul,” said Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, trying to keep his cool in the presence of greatness. “She knows that when you succeed, you should give a little something back to help others succeed, and that’s exactly what she did today.”
It’s hard to say who was more starstruck: the kids or their parents, as they gathered in North High School’s gymnasium on Friday afternoon. They came for free school supplies but got a surprise that was as unexpected as a last-second half-court shot.
“It was kept very, very secret,” said Caitlin Clark Foundation President Mary Coffin, clearly proud of her spy-level secrecy skills. “We weren’t sure until the last minute whether she could come… We didn’t want to disappoint anybody. But Caitlin was there. She interacted with the kids and she shot some basketballs with them. She loves it, she loves to be a part of it. It’s really her passion.”
The foundation’s “Back To School Backpacks” initiative could have been a slam dunk on its own, but Caitlin’s surprise appearance turned it into a full-court press of awesomeness. Nike donated backpacks, while Hy-Vee stuffed them with notebooks, pens, and pencils. Gatorade, ever the team player, provided water bottles to keep everyone hydrated.
“I know how fortunate I was to have a strong education and access to tools that allowed me to be successful in the classroom,” Clark said in a release, sounding more like a sage philosopher than a basketball phenom. “School supplies are essential for every student’s learning and development, and the Caitlin Clark Foundation is grateful to our sponsors for their support in making this event possible.”
Students not only walked away with school supplies but also got to pose for pictures with Caitlin and even shoot some hoops. It was like winning the lottery, except the prize was infinitely cooler and involved way more slam dunks.
“We were excited to welcome Caitlin to North High School today to meet students from across the district, and are honored to count the Caitlin Clark Foundation as a new DMPS partner in our important work of providing a quality education to the students of Des Moines,” Roberts said, clearly still buzzing from the superstar encounter.
The district is hopeful that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. “From talking to her and her family members … we suspect that this is not a one-and-done event, but that it is the start of what we think will be a long, good relationship for the kids in our community,” said Phil Roeder, director of communications and public affairs for the district.
So, what is the Caitlin Clark Foundation? Picture a trifecta of education, nutrition, and sports — three pillars that helped Caitlin become the legend she is today. The foundation is committed to providing food, clothes, sports gear, and more to Iowa’s youth and communities. It’s like a superhero team-up, but instead of capes and masks, there are backpacks and basketballs.
Through initiatives such as educational programs, sports camps, food drives, clothing and gear donations, and community outreach, the foundation aims to make a positive impact in the lives of youth. They’ve already had successful campaigns with the Coralville Community Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, and Hy-Vee.
Caitlin Clark, the triple-threat on the court, is proving to be an even bigger star off it. And for the kids of Des Moines, her surprise visit was nothing short of a slam dunk start to the school year.
