Kara Klypycz is a teacher, a mother and a community champion. And for the past four years, Kara has been fundraising for United Way Waterloo Region Communities under her reigning title as The Pumpkin Queen of Cambridge.

“This is my charity of choice,” says Kara, “because of all the areas it touches, helping all members of the community in very different ways. This is the charity both my husband and I support through our work as well.”

Why pumpkins? Kara says making jack-o’-lanterns is a form of art for her and she likes pushing herself creatively. Thirteen years ago she started with 9 pumpkins and worked all the way up to a whopping 150 for her 2017 display, which she carved in only 4 days. For Kara, the sheer number of people visiting her home to view the jack-o’-lanterns was what inspired her to want to have a lasting impact. “That’s when we decided to fundraise,” she says.