Long before she became one of the most electrifying names in women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark was quietly serving her community in Des Moines, volunteering at food pantries and homeless shelters.
Today, as a national sports icon and WNBA rookie with the Indiana Fever, Clark is using her platform to tackle food insecurity on a much larger scale.
In a resurfaced 2023 video, then still a college standout at Iowa, Clark is seen alongside her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, hosting a food drive in Coralville. In the clip, Clark explains her deep-rooted commitment to helping those facing food scarcity.
“I’ve been doing this since middle school… I just think it is a good way to give back. I don’t think people realize food insecurity is such a big problem in our world,” Clark detailed.
That passion hasn’t faded. In fact, it has only grown as her star power has increased.
Clark has raised over $300,000 to combat food insecurity
Now, with the eyes of the sports world on her, Clark is leveraging her influence for good. Earlier this week, the Caitlin Clark Foundation announced a major donation of over 300,000 dollars to Feeding America.
The funds were raised through a March 2025 campaign with Hy-Vee grocery stores, where customers had the option to round up their purchases at checkout to support local food banks. The total, 300,802.85 dollars, will directly benefit 18 Feeding America partner banks across the Midwest.
At the donation presentation, Caitlin’s brother, Blake Clark, spoke on behalf of the foundation.
“Our mission is to uplift and inspire youth through education, nutrition, and sport,” he said.
“And we all know, it’s hard to show up and be your best self when you’re hungry and all you can think about is where your next meal is going to be.”
Nutrition, Blake added, is a foundational piece in helping young people thrive in both education and athletics.
This isn’t the first time Clark’s philanthropic spirit has made headlines. In February 2025, during her jersey retirement ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Coralville Community Food Pantry received a 22,000-dollar donation from the Caitlin Clark Foundation. Over the years, she has helped raise more than 100,000 dollars for that local pantry alone.
In an era where athletes are increasingly seen as agents of change, Caitlin Clark stands out not just for her record-shattering performances but for her authentic and sustained commitment to giving back.
Her journey from middle school volunteer to national ambassador for hunger relief shows that her legacy will be about far more than basketball stats, it will be measured in lives changed.
Read the full article here
