Latest news with #CaitlinClarkFoundation
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Foundation dishes another assist
The Caitlin Clark Foundation teamed up with Musco Lighting to donate and dedicate a mini-pitch at Weeks Middle School in Des Moines. DMPS Superintendent Dr Ian Roberts offers brief remarks, followed by WHO 13 drone video, and thoughts from Caitlin Clark Foundation President Mary Coffin. Clark had practice and was unable to the full press release: WEEKS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS KICK OFF NEWEST MINI-PITCH Students at Weeks Middle School made the opening goals and free throws at the school's new mini-pitch. This particular pitch is the first-ever Caitlin Clark Foundation Community Court. While Musco Lighting has been a strong supporter in developing other soccer mini-pitches at Des Moines Public Schools, support from the Caitlin Clark Foundation is enabling the outdoor facility to be set up for basketball along with soccer and futsal. The Musco Mini-Pitch System™ modular sports solution is designed to support soccer, basketball, and futsal, a faster-paced variant of soccer. With built-in goals and added hoops, integrated fencing, lighting, benches, custom surfacing, and ADA-accessible gates, the structures will help bring youth in our community together for recreation. 'Providing every student at DMPS with greater access to activities and athletics, along with the first-rate facilities they deserve, is an important part of our strategic plan to reimagine education in Des Moines,' said Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of DMPS. 'To have an internationally recognized business like Musco Lighting team up with a world class athlete like Caitlin Clark in support of DMPS means a great deal in helping us realize our goal of creating more opportunities for more students.' 'As an Iowa-based company, this project is especially meaningful to us,' said Jeff Rogers, CEO of Musco Lighting. 'These community courts will fulfill the Caitlin Clark Foundation's sports pillar, and help increase access to recreation to provide a space for kids to develop life skills with their friends and family. ' In addition to Weeks, Musco and the Caitlin Clark Foundation are developing new courts at Callanan, Hiatt and McCombs middle schools. When completed in time for next school year, all ten DMPS middle schools will have a mini-pitch for students. 'We are thrilled to open the first of our four Community Courts in partnership with the fantastic teams at Des Moines Public Schools and Musco Lighting,' said Mary Coffin, President of Caitlin Clark Foundation. 'These courts provide youth in our communities with quality space to be active and participate in sports which develop important life-long skills to chase their dreams.'The Caitlin Clark Foundation and Musco call their relationship a perfect match. The two organizations are located in Iowa and are both committed to equitable access to recreation for youth. Both have a passion for sports, whether it is a game played at the local park and recreation field, a high school gymnasium, a college arena, or a professional venue. Both understand that sports build teamwork, resiliency, and healthy habits. According to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, about 6.5 million kids live within one-half mile of a mini-pitch, and each pitch can reach an average of 10,000 kids. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Des Moines schools are getting new outdoor athletic courts — thanks to Caitlin Clark
Several new multipurpose recreation courts are coming to Des Moines Public Schools with help from Caitlin Clark and her foundation. The Caitlin Clark Foundation announced Tuesday that four new soccer and basketball community courts will be installed at schools within DMPS. The courts will be located at: Callanan Middle School Hiatt Middle School McCombs Middle School Weeks Middle School 'Providing every student at DMPS with greater access to activities and athletics, along with the first-rate facilities they deserve, is an important part of our strategic plan to reimagine education in Des Moines,' DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts said in a news release. Weather permitting, the facility at Weeks Middle School is scheduled to open later in the spring, with the remaining facilities expected to be completed by the end of summer, said Phil Roeder, a district spokesperson. The Musco Mini-Pitch System courts are provided by Musco Lighting, a company headquartered in Oskaloosa that makes and installs lights and other infrastructure used at sports venues worldwide. "It's an investment into the future of our kids," Musco Lighting CEO Jeff Rogers told the Register. "Projects like this are cool when you can pull a group of people together for a common cause, and Caitlin's foundation and Des Moines Public Schools are focused and working hard on trying to provide a better opportunity for kids." Each Mini-Pitch System is 60 feet by 84 feet in size and is equipped with built-in soccer goals, basketball hoops, lighting, benches and more. Rogers said the total cost of the four courts is more than $500,000. 'The Caitlin Clark Foundation is thrilled to be a partner in delivering these sports systems to the Des Moines schools and the greater community," Caitlin Clark Foundation President Mary Coffin said in a news release. 'Sports activities provided by these courts help develop connections, foster teamwork, and improve communication. "These are essential skills that complement the education journey and will have an impact beyond the court experience.' The four Mini-Pitch Systems coming to DMPS will be the latest collaboration with Musco Lighting and the school district. Musco Lighting most recently installed a Mini-Pitch System at Merrill Middle School in November 2023. Last August, Caitlin Clark surprised Des Moines students with school supplies as part of her foundation's "Back To School Backpacks" initiative. Clark's sponsors joined her for this give-back, including Nike supplying backpacks stuffed with school supplies and Gatorade giving students water bottles. Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@ or follow him on X @CooperAWorth. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Caitlin Clark helps 4 Des Moines schools get new sports courts
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artwork by Ukrainian children to be auctioned in Marshalltown
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — The Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center is auctioning artwork made by children in their Ukrainian sister city to help benefit the war-torn country. The artwork is part of their latest exhibit called, 'War Through the Eyes of Children,' located in the Monet Reception Hall. All the pieces were created by children between the ages of six and 17 in Marshalltown's sister city, Zdolbuniv. Below each painting is a photo of the child who created it and a description of them written by their teachers. Many of the pieces depict sunflowers and wheat because sunflower oil and bread are big exports for Ukraine. The country's flag and colors are also prevalent in several paintings. Many also illustrate the idea of longing for peace. Caitlin Clark Foundation giving $22,000 grants to 4 Iowa charities Despite the dark muse, the paintings are colorful, bright, and bold. 'They have lost 100 people from their town, and some of the children's fathers are away fighting. So, it's a very personal thing to them. But, as children are, they are colorful and bright,' said Carrie Barr, a committee member for the Marshalltown sister-city relations. Barr said Zdolbuniv is a city with a similar size to Marshalltown. 'We've been through a lot here in Marshalltown, nothing compares to what they've been through. But, people understand that neighbors help neighbors and people help people and this sister city is an extension of people helping people,' she said. The exhibit officially opens for the public to view in person on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then on Thursday from 10 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. Then, the auction will take place on Friday, January 31st at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar. The paintings can be viewed and bid on online until Friday. All of the proceeds will go to Zdolbuniv. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
