Biography of Karen Henke:

For more than 23 years, Karen Henke has been a member of the local Emblem Club of American, a women’s group that works with and participates in many Elks charitable functions. In 1998, she and husband Skip created a Purple Pig Silent Auction at the Elks, with all funds going to help disabled children throughout California and Hawaii. The project has raised almost $100,000 since inception. With Karen’s insistence, the Henkes started the Dictionary Project in the SCV. The program hands out dictionaries to third grade classes in about 40 schools.  Approximately 4,500 students have received the books.