DES MOINES – Today, Governor Kim Reynolds Gov. signed a proclamation declaring Saturday, September 28, 2019, as Carson King Day in the state of Iowa.
Watch the governor’s remarks on Facebook here.
King gained fame with a sign during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast in Ames Sept. 14 asking, tongue in cheek, for donations to his Venmo account to replenish his supply of Busch Light.
Little did he know the effort would go viral, and King swiftly said he would donate all proceeds to the Stead Children’s Hospital at the University of Iowa.
Busch Light’s parent company and Venmo quickly promised to match any funds, which have topped the $1 million mark.
Enter Aaron Calvin, reporter from the Des Moines Register. He did a deep social media dive, uncovering two social media remarks deemed racist (though they were simply repeating a joke for a TV show) posted by King eight years ago, when he was 16.
Embarrassed, King took to KCCI-TV to apologize, but Busch Light struck first, disassociating itself with King while still assuring they would match raised funds.
The outcry was immediate, as thousand took to Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter and other outlets to savage the Register, call for a boycott or cancellation of subscriptions and vowing to never again purchase an Anheuser-Busch brew.
Calvin himself was rumored to have some questionable posts in his own past, but his accounts have suddenly been protected.
The text of the governor’s proclamation can be found below:
“WHEREAS, volunteerism and selflessness defines Iowans by nature. Because in Iowa, individuals like Carson King demonstrate how Iowa Nice isn’t just a slogan, but our way of life; and
WHEREAS, Carson King can showcase who we are as a people, not only by selflessly donating to a worthy cause, but spreading the message of generosity. Because of his efforts, over $1 million and counting has gone towards the renowned University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City; and
WHEREAS, Carson King continues to be a force for change, stating he’s working to raise $2 million for the hospital before September 30th; and
WHEREAS, the Carson King Story embodies a young man’s ability to help a cause greater than himself and can serve as a model for others to follow; and
WHEREAS, Carson King has shown that one person can make a difference and one person can make positive change even through the unlikeliest of ways:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim September 28th, 2019 as Carson King Day in the State of Iowa and thank him for his contributions to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa children, and their families.”
