Support Local Charities with the Des Moines Turkey Trot
This holiday season, we're proud to support Every Kid Gets a Ball as the official charity of the Des Moines Turkey Trot. Led by Friends of Des Moines Parks, this initiative provides every child enrolled in soccer, basketball, football, baseball, or softball through Des Moines Parks and Recreation with a free ball—giving them the tools to keep playing, practicing, and growing long after the season ends.
Since its start in 2015, the Des Moines Turkey Trot has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities and initiatives—thanks to the generosity of our running community. Each year, our featured charity receives at least half of all donated funds, with the remainder supporting additional community organizations doing great work across Iowa.
Past recipients include Special Olympics Iowa, Above + Beyond Cancer, Forest Avenue Outreach, The Good Vibes Movement, and Mason’s Lighthouse. This year, we invite you to keep the tradition going by supporting Every Kid Gets a Ball and helping us put play—and possibility—into every child's hands.
