Our Mission

Since 2003, MindUP has been helping children globally develop the mental fitness necessary to thrive in school and throughout their lives.

MindUP™ | The Goldie Hawn Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded to help children develop the knowledge and tools they need to manage stress, regulate emotions and face the challenges of the 21st century with optimism, resilience and compassion.

MindUP was created in response to the global epidemic of:
  • childhood aggression
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • suicide
Developed by a team of experts focusing on four pillars:
  • neuroscience
  • social-emotional learning (SEL)
  • positive psychology
  • mindful awareness
MindUP provides the vehicle for whole-child, whole-school, whole-community transformation offering programs including resources and training for:
  • educators
  • administrators
  • families
  • adults

Founder’s Message

All children in the world are our most precious resource for a happier, healthier tomorrow. They deserve all we can give them to thrive and succeed in this sometimes challenging world. After 9/11, like you, I was shaken to my core, as it seemed the world had changed in an instant. My heart went to our youth, who were already showing signs of silent distress with symptoms of anxiety, depression, aggression and even child suicide. It was unimaginable that our little ones were suffering mental disturbances and being robbed of their joyful childhoods.

I had a call to action to create a program that would help kids learn how to self regulate their emotions, become more resilient and learn about how their brain works to give them a road map out of despair and into a more positive mindset. Combining the brilliance of neuroscientists, teachers, positive psychologists and experts in mindfulness, my dream for kids came true, with the creation of our program MindUP. I am happy to say that 7 million children have been taught MindUP in schools around the world and growing.

Life can have many chapters and I can say this may be the greatest of my life. To see our children use these tools in their lives brings tears of joy to my eyes. Sharing what we are grateful for is one of our MindUP lessons so I would like to share my gratitude for all of you who have supported us along the way in helping our youth grow to be happy, healthy, productive adults.

With Love,

Goldie Hawn
Founder, The Goldie Hawn Foundation

Board of Directors

Goldie Hawn

Founder and CEO

Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin

USA Board Member

Teri Schwartz

USA Board Member

Cheyenne Ehrlich

USA Board Member

Glenn Baker

Treasurer

Kate Hudson

USA Board Member

Kenneth Costello

USA Board Member

Kate Robinson

UK Board Member

Aryn Grossman

USA Board Member

Morton Sherman

USA Board Member

Robert Love

USA & UK Board Member

Susan Fuhrman

USA Board Member

Dennis Patrick Murphy

USA Board Member

Walt Cooper

USA Board Member

Ernesto Duran

USA Board Member

Sir Ken Robinson

Past Board Honoree

Scientific Advisor Board

Kim Schonert-Reichl, Ph.D.

Robert Roeser, Ph.D.

Joshua Brown, Ph.D.

Amishi Jha Ph.D.

Jean M Clinton BMus MD FRCP(C)

The Team

Carrie Patterson

Executive Director

Dido Balla

Head of Education

Iris Renoux

Chief of Staff to Goldie Hawn

Alyssa Lionetti

Director, Product Integration and Partnerships

Joelle Schonberg

Operations Manager

Molly Lawlor, Ph.D.

Principal Scientific Advisor

Jessica Steffes

Customer Experience & Membership Manager

Suzanne Lemberg

Educational Program Manager

Maizie Hamilton

Administrative Coordinator