SW Iowa Times

Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum is turning heads with a $30,000 donation to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital raised through his name, image and likeness licensing earnings.

“Wow. The value of NIL comes in many forms,” The Athletic college football writer Chris Vannini posted on Twitter after Linderbaum’s mom tweeted a photo of the donation.

With Linderbaum now unable to visit the hospital due to COVID-19 protocols being in place, The Spun reported the Hawkeyes’ star made the decision to show his support by taking advantage of the new rules around name, image and likeness licensing to make the donation.

He raised the money by setting up a website to sell clothing and other accessories, with all the profits being gifted to the hospital.

Director of corporate and community development Courtney Blind told ESPN that hospital officials were completely surprised by the gesture.

“We had no idea he was doing it, and it was so organic,” Blind said. “Tyler himself sent an email to me and another member of my team and said, ‘I’d like to do a fundraiser for you.’ He said he didn’t want to keep any of the money and wanted to give it all back to the hospital.”

Linderbaum’s donation is reported to be in support of the general pediatrics department.

The NCAA’s new name, image and likeness policy, allowing athletes to better make money off their name or image, went into effect earlier this year.