Karen Scheeringa-Parra is a woman of faith, compassion, and tireless dedication. A mother of twelve—eleven through adoption—Karen’s journey of service began in 1982 while adopting her daughter from Korea. There, she connected with an organization providing life-changing surgeries for children and began volunteering as an expression of her faith.

In 1990, recognizing the need for more sustainable, family-centered care, she founded Hearts In Motion to bring medical teams directly to children in developing countries. Under her visionary leadership, HIM became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1993 and continues to grow through her deep commitment to serving others.