Introduction
The next entry in our “Meet the Board” series highlights Karen Barnwell. Many of you know Karen from her activities around PHUMC. In addition to serving as the Foundation Board Co-Chair, Karen is also a member of the Food Pantry Board and a Wakefield Elementary School tutor. She currently serves as a member of the Administrative Board, a volunteer with our Afghan families, a member of the PrimeTimers Council, a Prayer Shawl volunteer, and a Cancer Friends Card volunteer. I am exhausted simply listing all her activities – not sure what she might be up to in her ‘free time’!
Although Karen joined Pulaski Heights UMC in 1982, she had attended services here for over a decade. Karen was reluctant to resign her membership in her ‘home’ church, but realized every church activity she participated in was at PHUMC. She called PHUMC her new ‘home’ church, and she’s been here since.
Why the Willing Friends Society?
Joining the Willing Friends Society of the PHUMC Foundation was intentional. Supporting her Church has “always been important” to Karen. She was searching for a way to continue her support of PHUMC past her death. After joining the Foundation, Karen said it was eye-opening to see how the Foundation’s grants to various PHUMC areas furthered PHUMC’s mission. She supported the Foundation three-year commitment of financial support to the University District Mobile Market, and continues to serves on the selection committee for the Barnwell-Holloway Medical Studies Scholarship.
Her desire is to see the Foundation assets continue to grow, allowing the church to expand its mission to the congregation, the local/state community, and beyond. She knows that as both our restricted and unrestricted assets continue to grow there will be a positive impact on the varied missions they support.
Karen encourages anyone considering their long-terms plans to visit with our Director to see where they can fit into the Foundation. There are so many ways to connect. The Foundation can use any gift, no matter the size, to further the Kingdom of God. What a legacy to leave!