Staff: Kari Lawrence

Kari (care-ee) was born in Minnesota and grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. She went on to study botany in college at the University of Wisconsin and earned her master’s from Humboldt State in Northern California. She spent more than a decade at OMSI and several years with PSU Foundation, which ignited her passion for advancing equity through education and opportunity. Coming from a scientific background, Kari appreciates Friends of the Children for the ‘evidence- based hope” it provides families. She is honored to serve the Friends organization and work to extend this impact to even more children in our area.

When she’s not chasing her husband and two boys around on the soccer pitch, Kari might be found knitting with her craft group, tending to her extensive houseplant collection, or playing with their two mischievous kittens!