Carson King Story

"Iowa love" has organized t-shirt fundraisers for the Carson King Foundation, fundraising more than $150,000.

THE “IOWA LEGEND”

In what has become legend, Carson King, a then 24-year old security guard for Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, stood in the background of ESPN’s “Game Day” live broadcast holding a humorous sign his mother discouraged him from making: “Busch Light supply needs replenished”, and provided his Venmo address for donations.

After receiving several hundred dollars, King tweeted that all monies received will be donated to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. After setting aside $18.00 to purchase a case of Busch Light. 

Within several days, more than $3 million dollars was fundraised after matching funds from Venmo and Anheuser-Busch.

CARSON’S CALLING

This accidental fundraising ignited a passion for fundraising and philanthropy within Carson. He created the Carson King Foundation, a nonprofit geared toward helping children and families.

Leaning in to his newfound celebrity and the generosity of Iowans, the Foundation has fundraised and donated more than $180,000.

“Everything we’ve achieved is entirely thanks to folks across Iowa and the country who have chosen to dedicate their hard earned money to support the causes important to us,” shares Carson King.

In May 2020, when COVID-19 was beginning to restrict the availability of medical services while increasing the need for mental health care, the Foundation teamed up with t-shirt design brand “Iowa love” to launch a fundraiser supporting mental health services. Four nonprofits each received a $10,000 donation from the Foundation.

Later in the year, after the derecho wind storm wreaked havoc in central and eastern Iowa last summer and caused more than $1 billion in damage, the organizations launched their second t-shirt fundraiser. This time, raising more than $63,264.51 to support nonprofits on the ground providing immediate relief to those affected.

And during last football season, "Iowa love" and the Foundation teamed up to raise nearly $75,000 through t-shirt sale which went on to support Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City and Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines.