Iowa Athletic Club announces fund to support youth athletics

The Iowa Athletic Club and HAVlife announced a new partnership to financially disadvantaged youth in Johnson County.
The Iowa Athletic Club and HAVlife announced a new partnership to financially disadvantaged youth in Johnson County. CREDIT NOAH TONG

The Iowa Athletic Club announced a new partnership with HAVlife Johnson County May 19 to help fund youth sports opportunities for local kids.

HAVlife is a nonprofit that works to help youth, no matter their financial situation, participate in art, music and sports programming. The Iowa Athletic Club’s All-Star Fund will help raise money for HAVlife so they can distribute the funds effectively.

“We just thought it was a great collaborative effort to have them serve as the vehicle platform for the fund, said Nate Kaeding, owner of the Iowa Athletic Club and former University of Iowa and NFL kicker. “This is central to our mission here at the restaurant as a business to celebrate sport. We thought this fund was a great way to bring that to fruition.”

The Iowa Athletic Club opened last fall in the Iowa River Landing at 200 E. 9th Street.

CREDIT NOAH TONG

“We are thrilled that Nate and the I.A.C team have selected HAVlife Johnson County to help support his goal of making youth sports more accessible in our community. This fund will make a huge difference in the lives of local kids by helping reduce barriers and allowing more kids to practice, play, and compete in their favorite sports,” said Tyler Blum, HAVlife Johnson County board chair.

Funds will help families with enrollment costs, equipment costs and can give gifts to individual clubs through grants, says Mr. Kaeding. Proceeds of sales during the announcement went to HAVlife.

HAVlife’s focus is on local youth ages 10-15 years old. Since 2016, it has awarded more than $250,000 in grant dollars to more than 40 Johnson County based nonprofits —
impacting more than 14,000 area kids.