Caitlin Clark Buys Lemonade at Girl’s Stand, Returns the Next Day to Surprise Her

Caitlin Clark, one of basketball’s rising stars, recently showed that her impact goes far beyond the court. During a rare break from her offseason training in Iowa, Caitlin noticed a young girl, Bella, running a humble lemonade stand on a quiet residential street. Drawn by nostalgia and curiosity, Caitlin decided to stop by and support the young entrepreneur.

Bella, a shy but spirited 12-year-old, had no idea the tall, friendly woman before her was a WNBA star. After a brief conversation, Bella shared that she aspired to play basketball but struggled with limited resources—practicing with an old thrift-store ball and unable to afford camps. Caitlin, deeply moved, encouraged Bella and promised to return the next day with a surprise.

True to her word, Caitlin arrived the following day with bags full of gifts. She brought brand-new basketball equipment, including shoes, a jersey, and a quality basketball. But that wasn’t all. Caitlin also called in a construction crew to transform Bella’s lemonade stand into a bright, welcoming setup complete with a chalkboard sign and an umbrella for shade. Bella’s parents, overwhelmed with gratitude, thanked Caitlin for her generosity.

As word spread that Caitlin Clark was in the neighborhood, Bella’s once-quiet corner became a hub of activity. Caitlin stayed to help Bella sell lemonade, chatting with customers and signing autographs. The day became a turning point for Bella, who now had both the tools and confidence to pursue her basketball dreams.

But Caitlin wasn’t done. A few weeks later, she returned with another surprise: a full scholarship for Bella to train with a local basketball academy. The gesture brought Bella one step closer to achieving her dream of playing professionally. Caitlin also gifted her tickets to a WNBA game, giving Bella the chance to witness the level of play she aspired to reach.

For Bella, Caitlin’s kindness was life-changing. Her lemonade stand flourished, her basketball skills improved, and her community rallied around her. Caitlin’s support showed Bella—and everyone watching—that dreams, no matter how big, are achievable with hard work, determination, and a little help from those who believe in you.

Caitlin Clark donates 22,000 books to Iowa, Indiana kids to celebrate her birthday

Caitlin Clark is once again giving back on her birthday.

After gifting her teammates at Iowa with new Nike shoes for her birthday last year, Clark is celebrating her 23rd birthday by donating 22,000 new children’s books to kids in Iowa and Indiana through a partnership with Scholastic and her Caitlin Clark Foundation.

“I remember picking out the books from the Scholastic flyer and how empowering that was for me as a child, and how motivated I was to read,”  Clark said in a news release announcing the donation. “I want to help kids have the same experience, to develop their reading skills and open their imaginations to dream big.”

The books are for kids in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Clark’s foundation expects to distribute them to elementary schools, middle schools, children’s hospitals and other non-profit organizations.

Scholastic often partners with NFL players to encourage reading, but Clark’s foundation is the first for a WNBA player, according to USA TODAY.

In August, the Caitlin Clark Foundation also donated 350 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in Des Moines Public Schools.

Caitlin Clark donation comes at a time when fewer kids are reading

“We need to make radical moves and inspire meaningful improvement to change the trajectory of child literacy rates in America. To do this, we need champion-level advocacy and support, which is what makes collaborating with Caitlin so exciting,” said Judy Newman, the chief impact officer at Scholastic.

In Scholastic’s most recent Kids & Family Reading Report, the number of kids aged 6 to 17 who said they read five to seven days a week dropped from 37% in 2010 to 28% in 2022.

In 2022, 67% of Iowa fourth-graders were below proficient in reading — just shy of the national average of 68%

Former coach donated copies of ‘Just Like Caitlin’ to all Iowa second graders

Last November, Dickson and Luann Jensen donated 50,000 copies of the book “Just Like Caitlin” to more than 600 schools across Iowa and the Indianapolis area. Dickson Jensen coached Clark while she played for All Iowa Attack.

The picture book is written by Ally Obermeier, the Jensens’ daughter and an all-state guard who played at Ballard High School, and illustrated by Makenzie McCarthy.

The 40-page book details how Clark brought a new level of national attention to basketball while teaching readers that losing is part of the sport, emphasizing the importance of staying positive and pursuing their dreams, according to the book’s website.