Former U.S. second lady Karen Pence launches charity initiative
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A former second lady of the United States, Karen Pence on Tuesday said she sees no reason why she can’t keep supporting her fellow Hoosiers.
The wife of former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence had a charitable foundation during her time as first lady of Indiana. The foundation featured a spring luncheon that raised over $600,000 for Indiana charities. She told News 8 on Tuesday that she is returning to that model to launch the Hummingbird Charitable Foundation . She said the foundation began with conversations with longtime friends about nine months ago.
“There is no reason why now I should just be having lunch with my friends and visiting grandbabies,” she said. “I realize that there is more that I can do for my fellow Hoosiers.”
Pence said the foundation will raise money through an annual luncheon to be held each spring. All of the proceeds will go toward a different set of charities each year. For the foundation’s first year, Pence chose three charities focused on veterans’ issues: Indy Honor Flight , INvets and the Indy Warrior Partnership . INvets helps people transitioning from the military to find jobs, the Indy Warrior Partnership connects veterans with housing support, Veterans Administration benefits and other services, and Indy Honor Flight takes aging veterans to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C.