Caitlin Clark's foundation rolls out book vending program for kids in Indiana and Iowa hospitals

The Caitlin Clark Foundation announced the start of "Turning Pages, Healing Hearts," a charitable effort designed to bring books and creative activities to pediatric patients in Indiana and Iowa. In collaboration with Scholastic, the program equips hospitals with vending machines that dispense books selected by children using provided tokens, alongside craft kits and a "joy finder" to encourage play. It first reached Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, then the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City, with plans to add UnityPoint Health in Des Moines before the month ends.

By letting kids choose their own reading material, the initiative seeks to restore a sense of agency during hospital stays and to create bonding opportunities for patients, siblings, parents and staff. The foundation, founded in October 2023 and based in West Des Moines, focuses on education, nutrition and sports, linking those goals through this literacy-focused project. Clark, currently starring for the Indiana Fever, highlighted the program on social media, emphasizing its potential to bring lasting comfort beyond the basketball court.