Henry's Heroes
Every Year, a New Way to Show Up for Iowa's Kids.
Henry’s Heroes began with a baby shower and a generous impulse. It’s grown into an annual program that finds a different gap in Iowa’s rural communities every year — and fills it.
Program Overview
Henry’s Heroes was inspired by Henry Johnson — Jeff and Deb Hansen’s grandson, son of Natalie and Jake Johnson. After Henry was born, Natalie and Jake organized a donation of baby shower items to Blank Children’s Hospital. That act of generosity grew into a program.
Henry’s Heroes was designed to fill the gaps that SNAP, WIC, and other government programs can’t quite reach: bottles, diapers, children’s medicine, hygiene basics. In 2019, it joined the official roster of Foundation programs. Since then, it’s adapted every year — because the needs of Iowa’s communities change, and so does Henry’s Heroes.
Strengthening rural communities
Rural Iowa has unique needs and untapped potential. We invest in programs that help small towns and farming families prosper.
2026
1,480 Proud Military Kid shirts delivered to Iowa’s military-affiliated youth
2025
Bilingual Book Carts with 75 books in English and Spanish for 100 elementary schools
2024
500 Dream Kits delivered to children in crisis centers across 64 counties
2023
50 STEM carts donated to rural libraries in Homegrown Iowa communities
2022
Little Farmer’s Toyboxes for daycares impacted by COVID-19
2021
Law Enforcement Comfort Kits for police stations statewide
2019-2020
Children’s personal care items distributed through partner programs
