Caitlin Clark Foundation teams up with Lilly for three community courts in Indianapolis
The Indiana Fever star, alongside Eli Lilly and Musco Lighting, unveiled three new multi-sport courts aimed at giving Indianapolis kids safe places to play, connect, and stay active.
When Caitlin Clark established the Caitlin Clark Foundation, she did so with three core pillars in mind: education, nutrition, and sport.
Over the weekend, the WNBA star made a special announcement that directly impacts kids and the Indianapolis community.
Inside a brand-new Lilly corporate space — a building that had not even been open for a full week — Clark joined representatives from her foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, and Musco Lighting to celebrate the opening of three multi-sport community courts in Indianapolis.
“We started this project in Des Moines and built a few courts there,” Clark said. “And now I’m doing this in Indianapolis. These three courts here are pretty special.”
One of the new courts, located at E. South St. and S. New Jersey St. just south of downtown, is open to the public. Lilly provided the park and court as part of the company’s 150th anniversary celebration.
That’s where the announcement was originally scheduled, but the weather had other plans.
Along with the public court, two additional courts were built at Indianapolis Public Schools — Clarence Farrington and Edison School of the Arts — to support school programming.
“There’s multiple spaces that we’re donating back to the city of Indianapolis for free in hopes that, for generations to come, the community will come out, enjoy these spaces, families will come together, and kids will come out and play,” said Melissa Coe, Associate Vice President of Social Impact and Community Engagement at Lilly. “Health makes everything else possible, so we’re proud to have a small part in doing that for the city of Indianapolis.”
Clark grew up playing nearly every sport imaginable, from basketball to soccer. She often played with her brothers. Her older brother, Blake, and her mother, Anne Nizzi-Clark, both serve on the foundation’s board and were present for the announcement.
“It’s very important to her,” said Mary Coffin, president of the Caitlin Clark Foundation. “Staying active, having a place to play, and to connect.
“She knows it’s a big part of building your confidence, meeting friends, being a part of the community, and they’re just great courts to do all of that. So she’s just very excited to see kids out playing on them. It’s just it’s very heartfelt to her to see the kids when they take the soccer balls and the basketballs and start playing on the court.”
Last July, before the school year began, the foundation distributed backpacks in Indy as part of its education pillar. The organization plans to do it again this summer.
“Some of my best memories as a kid are getting to go outside and play on these courts, make new friends, meet new people,” Clark said. “And I think it’s super important for our community, for these kids, to have these spaces that they can go to with their families.
“They can feel safe. They can have fun. They can be active. So really just special for the whole community and hopefully we can continue to do more amazing work like this. So just super thankful for everybody that’s here.”
When Clark was introduced to the crowd, about a dozen kids sat on the floor in front of the podium. Most wore Fever gear, while a few sported Clark jerseys.
“Are you guys excited?” she asked, smiling toward the children. “I love your Fever gear. It looks so good.
“This is a really special project that I get to be a part of. I tell people this all the time — one of my favorite things I get to do with my platform is help people like you and give back to the community.”
Downtown Indianapolis continues to thrive because of its sports teams and convention business. Major events seem to arrive every month, from the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament to the NCAA Men’s Final Four and WNBA All-Star Game.
That’s in addition to the city’s growing restaurant and entertainment scene. Clark, a global star, was invited to walk out with country music star Morgan Wallen one week ago at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Now when families come downtown, they can expect not only world-class sporting events, world-class dining, and entertainment, but also access to nature and a space to put on a game of their own,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said. “This is especially important for our city’s young people — our future leaders and future generations. This new court is going to inspire generations of kids to play and dream big.”
“We’ve been fortunate to do Lucas Oil, Gainbridge Arena, the minor league stadium, great stuff,” said Jeff Rogers, CEO of Musco Lighting. “But what will be on our mantle will be these Caitlin Clark community courts. We think that’s a wonderful contribution to the city of Indianapolis.”
Whether it’s shooting hoops, kicking a soccer ball, or simply having a place to gather, this initiative clearly means a lot to Clark.
“I love that Caitlin uses her platform to help others,” Coe added. “And I love that the Caitlin Clark Foundation is focused on health above all and asks, ‘How can we help build healthier communities?’ That’s something Lilly believes in, too, so it’s a perfect fit.”
One month ago, the foundation announced a partnership with Scholastic Books. In November, Clark’s first book — aimed at inspiring kids — will be released.
It’s guaranteed to be a best-seller because it’s Clark — and she is The Needle.
That’s how you know this project is going to be successful too; everything in her orbit is.
“She always says, ‘Dream big,’” Coffin added. “She dreamed big, and she worked hard. She says, ‘I worked hard and I earned it.’
“But she’s really stood behind the idea that you can be a great athlete, but you also need the education and nutrition that support it — and then you have to get out and be active. It’s a very simple but very powerful message.”
As Clark’s influence continues to expand globally, projects like this show where much of her focus remains — close to the community. For the kids who will grow up playing on these courts, the impact could last far longer than any single game or season.