IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.

CLOSE MENU
  • Business & Agriculture
  • Residents
  • Government
  • Education
  • Taxes & Finance
  • Visiting & Playing
  • Family & Health

Former Governor Mike Pence

Former First Lady Karen Pence

Former First Lady Karen Pence

About the Former First Lady

Karen Pence has been a school teacher for more than 25 years. As First Lady of Indiana, Karen continued her passion for educating children by traveling the state, shining the spotlight on amazing schools in Indiana.

Mrs. Pence is an artist. Her specialty is watercolors of homes and historical buildings.

She was the honorary chair of the Art Therapy Initiative at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis and is a member of Riley Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. She also serves as a board member for Tracy's Kids, an art therapy program for several children's hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. She filled her office with art work created by students from all over the world.

Mrs. Pence also traveled the state as Indiana’s official Bicentennial Ambassador. In this position, she played a key role in celebrating Indiana’s 200th birthday in 2016.

In her role as First Lady, Mrs. Pence created the Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation. The Foundation was a 501 (c) 3 whose purpose was to encourage and support youth and families of Indiana. The beneficiaries included individuals, schools, communities, and families, along with arts organizations. The Foundation’s board awarded over $600,000 in grants to charities serving Hoosiers in all 92 counties.

Mrs. Pence brought awareness to many causes by supporting and participating in over 40 initiatives as First Lady.

Mrs. Pence earned a B.S. and M.S. in Elementary Education from Butler University. She and Vice President Mike Pence have been married since 1985 and are proud parents of their adult children, Michael and his wife Sarah, and daughters Charlotte and Audrey.

More Online Services »

First Lady Karen Pence Initiatives

  1. Indiana Bicentennial Ambassador
  2. Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation
  3. Hopeline From Verizon-Assistance to Domestic Violence Survivors
  4. Deployment Letters to Indiana National Guard
  5. School Visits Across Indiana
  6. Art Therapy
  7. Riley Children’s Foundation Board of Governors
  8. Infant Mortality
  9. CASA Columbia Family Day
  10. Scholastic Summer Reading Program
  11. Assistance League of Indianapolis
  12. Annual Tree Trim Program at the Statehouse
  13. Statehood Day-Statehouse
  14. Christmas at the Capitol
  15. Hoosier Art Salon and Cooperative Calendar of Student Art
  16. Art Mix Event (over 300 children attend)
  17. Boy Scout Camp out at the Governor’s Residence
  18. Lupus Awareness
  19. Indiana State Fair
  20. Indiana Army National Guard Books and Boots
  21. Indiana Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Luncheon
  22. Hoosier Heroine Essay Contest
  23. Healthy Hoosier Foundation
  24. Sagamore Leadership Series
  25. Noble Arts Depot Event
  26. Dayspring Home Center
  27. Wee-Ones Nursery Prison
  28. Drumstick Dash
  29. Kids Dance Outreach
  30. JAG
  31. Beehive at the Governor’s Residence
  32. Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Participants Dinner
  33. 1816 Indiana Bicentennial Tea (Sister-City Bicentennial Letter)
  34. Holiday Tours of the Governor’s Residence
  35. Lighting of the Governor’s Residence Tree with area school children
  36. Trick or Treating at the Residence (400 to 600 children)
  37. Legislative events
  38. Black Expo
  39. DNR Campout
  40. Mile with Mike
  41. Gold Star Ceremony
  42. COPS Cycling for Survivors
  43. Greening of the Canal (St. Patrick’s Day)
  44. Arbor Day
  45. National Governor’s Association (NGA)
  46. Foreign Travel Initiatives