Creative Thinker Sets Her Sights on Improving Health

A retired sportswear designer who now embraces a vision of improving health care worldwide recently included a bequest for City of Hope in her estate plan.

Harriet Karol is a successful designer who will leave a generous bequest to City of Hope.

Harriet Karol’s interest in the institution began in 1996 when she joined the Medical Center Aides Chapter in Los Angeles. An active chapter member, she dedicated herself to developing new ideas to help raise funds.

“I have always lived my life in a charitable way, and strived to raise money for those in less-fortunate circumstances,” she said. She remembers the qualities that initially drew her to City of Hope and to the Medical Center Aides chapter in particular. “They were a group that showed a quiet determination and honesty in their approach to developing new ideas to help people around the world,” she said. Her affinity for her chapter, as well as her interest in City of Hope’s research, moved her to regularly contribute throughout the years.

Originally from the East Coast, Karol launched her successful design career with such firms as Junior Miss and Sporteens more than six decades ago. Her early experience in the fashion industry nurtured her budding creativity and fueled her inspiration for pursuing later interests, including home renovation and other design projects. In spite of her struggles with macular degeneration, Karol reads avidly and remains dedicated to keeping abreast of developments in the world of politics. A committed activist, she also has taken an interest in military affairs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Karol also enjoys attending art shows, where she often mentors young designers.

Now, Karol encourages others to follow her lead in charitable giving, adding that supporting a cause to which she is deeply committed has brought her profound personal satisfaction. She believes her contribution will ultimately touch many lives.

Karol has two children, Steven and Joan, as well as four grandchildren: Kendra, Katie, Lexie and Julia. She was widowed in 1999 with the death of her second husband, Harold Karol, who shared her compassion for helping others by supporting City of Hope.