2009 Volunteers of the Year: Karen Bohn

Maybe it was the stories of her grandfather, who escaped violence in Russia at age 12 and received a helping hand from many people in America. Or perhaps it was the years of trick-or-treating as a child in Grand Forks with a Unicef box in hand that encouraged Karen Bohn to give back in her adult life. Either way, “It’s in my DNA,” Bohn says. The management consultant has devoted her time and resources to many organizations in the Twin Cities, North Dakota, and beyond. Locally she is perhaps best known for her 15-year stint with the Children’s Theatre Company, including eight months as interim managing director. But lately her heart seems to belong in Nairobi, Kenya. She serves on the board of the Friends of Ngong Road, which sends AIDS orphans to school. “You have to do whatever you can,” says Bohn.