Kara began her rowing career in 1995 at Shrewsbury High School. After several years of trying “ball and court sports”, rowing was a sport where she finally felt like an athlete. Kara stayed involved with the team, sitting on the board for a season as the team’s Fundraising Consultant.
Kara’s non-profit professional career started at the American Heart Association monitoring CPR training centers in the Northeast, ensuring the centers were following proper training guidelines that were set in place by the AHA. After a few years on the Programs side of the organization, she transitioned to Fundraising. During her 13 year career in fundraising at several local, national, and international non-profits, Kara has grown multiple walk events, galas, golf tournaments, 5k races, and managed a variety of committees and charity marathon teams.
During her fundraising career, Kara learned of a partnership with her then employer Boston Children’s Hospital and Community Rowing, Inc. Wanting to get involved again with the rowing community, Kara began to volunteer with a program through the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital called Optimum Weight for Life (OWL) on the Water. A year later, Kara was hired as a part-time rowing coach on the team.
Kara soon transitioned to a full-time role at CRI and became the Manager of Youth Recreational Rowing, overseeing the growth of middle school indoor rowing programs in schools outside of Boston as well as on-water youth recreational programs. Additionally, she coached CRI’s Competitive Development Sculling program as well as various sweeps programs.
When she’s not on the water, Kara can be found cycling around New England, participating in marathons, and giving pats to all dogs.