Karen Adams

Karen Adams is an award-winning anchor at Eyewitness News. Her broadcasting career began in radio, but she quickly moved into television news. She has worked as a reporter, anchor and news director for television stations in Missouri, Maryland and North Carolina.

During her years in broadcasting, Karen has won many awards for her work. She won the coveted Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Individual Achievement in Anchoring for all of New England. She recently received another Emmy as part of an Overall team effort on coverage of a breaking news story. Many Associated Press awards have come her way for outstanding reporting and feature reporting.

While working in Maryland , Karen received the "Gavel Award" from the Maryland Bar Association for her documentary on the Maryland judicial system and was recognized for this work in the Maryland state senate.

As news director, her news operation won many Associated Press awards including "Best Newscast".

Karen's reporting has taken her from coverage of hurricanes in the south to political reporting in Washington, D.C. She traveled on a Far East trade mission with two United States governors, sending reports back to the states from Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan; Seoul, South Korea and Hong Kong . A trip to Cape Verde resulted in coverage of the country's first democratic election. She covered the economic impact of the movement of factory jobs from New England to Mexico. Many of her live anchoring stints have included coverage of sporting events, most notably her trips to the Super Bowl to report on the New England Patriots.

The big stories in Rhode Island will generally find Karen live from the scene. For many years, her weekly column "Best Bets" appeared in the Providence Journal in which she recommended an entertainment arts event as a weekend destination.  That was coupled with "Best Bets" every week on Eyewitness News. This has allowed Karen to be very involved in the arts community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

For several years, she helped to co-host "Today's Rhode Island National Guard" which was a half-hour monthly program on the local PBS station which provided information about The National Guard, including troop deployment to Iraq and the Persian Gulf region and well as "welcome home" events for the men and women in uniform and their families.

In 2005, Karen was inducted into the "Silver Circle" of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, this most prestigious honor goes to broadcasters who have at least 25 years in television and who have made a significant contribution to the industry through their work and service. Karen was very proud to be recognized for this achievement.

In the spring of 2007, Karen will receive the "Lifetime Learning" Award from the Volunteers in Providence Schools for her Commitment to education.

Karen's community involvement is far-reaching and extensive. She is a director on the board of Bank RI; a board trustee with Community Preparatory School in Providence (an innovative school with provides scholarships and education to inner-city disadvantaged children); a board trustee with Meeting Street; Friends of Lincoln School; Friends of the Sophia Academy and an honorary "Big Sister" with the Big Sisters of Rhode Island.

Her past board member positions have included Trinity Repertory Theatre, Providence Animal Rescue League, Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island and Eastman House.

Karen recently co-chaired a fifteen million dollar capital campaign for the new Meeting Street building located in Providence.  She, along with chairs Paul Moran and Barry Hittner successfully met that goal, in fact even exceeded it. Her fundraising Efforts on behalf of many organizations include hosting and emceeing events for Alzheimer's Association; East Bay Community Action Coalition; House of Hope; Literacy Volunteers of Rhode Island; MADD; Wolf School; Stadium Theatre of Woonsocket ; Hasbro Children's Hospital; Women's Health Initiative; Special Olympics and many, many more.

Over the past few years, Karen has received many honors. She received the "Woman of Distinction" award from the Miss Rhode Island/Miss America Scholarship Pageant. She was named "Outstanding Career" woman by the Providence Business and Professional Women. The Rhode Island Civic Chorale honored her for "outstanding contributions to the arts". In 2006, she and her husband were the recipients of the Francis Lanctot award from the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket for their contributions to the theatre. She was named an "Unsung Hero" by Meeting Street . She began hosting the telethon for Meeting Street when she first arrived in Rhode Island and her commitment for the school which helps children with developmental disabilities continues to this day.

She has been the winner many years in the statewide reader's poll by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine as "Favorite Female Anchor".

Several organizations have honored Karen by "roasting" her as a fundraiser. Those charities include Aids Project Rhode Island ; Harmony Hill School and the Cranston Lions Club.

There are also the many walks for charities including the annual "Making Strides against Breast Cancer" for the American Cancer Society; Ronald McDonald House walk and the annual "Walk for Life" for Aids Project Rhode Island which she has been honorary chair for a number of years.

Because of her love of golf, she co-chairs many golf tournaments every year including the Memories and Miracles Tourney with Roger Williams Hospital , raising money for breast cancer awareness.

Karen is in great demand on the speaking circuit addressing various clubs and organizations; helping with forums at school, the United Way and Graduations. She has also been a featured keynote speaker for many organizations talking about dealings with the media, communications and The importance of volunteering.

Karen was born on the 4 th of July in Nevada, Missouri . She graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in Speech and Theatre and minor in Journalism.

She is married to a native Rhode Islander and they make their home in Lincoln .

She is an avid tennis player and golfer. She's a member of the Rhode Island Women's Golf Association and the Ocean State Women's Golf Assocation and has a golf club championship to her name.

Karen says one of her biggest thrills every year is the invitation to play in the CVS Charity Classic Pro-Am, where she's had the opportunity to meet the best players in the world in golf, including her two favorites, Arnold Palmer and Freddy Couples.

Even though there are great demands on her time, Karen believes in giving back to the community.