Karen O’Hara

Karen O’Hara has long been recognized for her energy and commitment to improving her community and the world around her. In 2011, she was selected as Mrs. New York and was New York State’s delegate to the Mrs. America Pageant, a prime time television special featuring the most accomplished married women of America. She also holds the title of Mrs. New York International 2013.

Ms. O’Hara has used the publicity from the Mrs. America program to bring attention to the horrors of human trafficking and the plight of its victims. She is a founder and member of the board of directors of the United Hands for Hope House which provides recovery services to domestic survivors of human trafficking. The organization works with victims from 17 counties in Western New York, from the Niagara Region to Rochester. Ms. O’Hara has also recently been named as an “Ambassador of Hope” for New York State by Shared Hope International, one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States.

While Ms. O’Hara is a soldier on the frontlines of the global effort to combat human trafficking, she is also deeply committed to the betterment of her Western New York community. An entrepreneur, Ms. O’Hara is the owner of Southtowns Antiques in her hometown of Springville, New York. She is also very active within the Springville Area Chamber of Commerce. Exemplifying the spirit of joy and service, she dedicates her time and talents to Springville Youth Incorporated, and several local youth athletics organizations.

Ms. O’Hara wholeheartedly believes in her work, and because of her efforts, she has been awarded with the Fred Langless Award for Humanitarian Outreach and had a day named in her honor by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

Ms. O’Hara currently resides in Springville, New York with her husband Mark and their two children.