Karen Lawrence

Karen Lawrence is a certified people-person. She is always looking for ways to help others.

As captain of the UofL cheerleading team, Karen found time between traveling for basketball and football games to help establish a scholarship for cheerleaders. After graduating in 1978, she opened Extend-A-Day Gymnastics, which she later integrated into Camp Hi Ho in 1984. The kid’s camp has been a huge success, and after 31 years she passed the baton to her son, Blaine.

Karen married her college sweetheart, Gary. They have spent 40 years traveling, golfing, and raising their three kids, Ben, Blaine, and Jennifer. Karen enjoys spending time with her six grand-kids, and is always looking for new thrills; she once rappelled down the side of a building wearing a red cape just to impress them!

Karen’s philanthropy focuses on the arts, children, and animal rescue. She is on the Kentucky Film Commission and Louisville Orchestra boards, and spends countless hours volunteering for various charities.