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Goldie Hawn’s Heart for Children

November 29th, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Whether you know Goldie Hawn as a quirky actress or a children’s advocate, one thing is recognizable—her bubbly personality.

“I am compelled to continuously see the bright side. It is in my DNA. My kids look at me and say: ’Mom, you’re so happy!’ And I do feel happy. I feel joyful inside. I can’t explain it,” admitted Hawn.

Goldie Hawn was featured on the cover of People Magazine in 1976, the same year The Women’s Board held its first fundraiser

That giggling personality landed Goldie Hawn a spot on Rowan and Martin’s television show Laugh-In in the late ’60s and an Academy Award for her performance in the 1970 comedy Cactus Flower. During the decade of the 1970s, she went on to star in box office hits like There’s a Girl in My Soup, Shampoo, Butterflies are Free, Sugarland Express and Foul Play.

Goldie Hawn’s infectious laughter continued to rain through the decades in feature films, only taking breaks to have her three children: Oliver Hudson, Kate Hudson and Wyatt Russell.

Revealing her serious side, Ms. Hawn showed her deep compassion for her family by halting her career for several years to take care of her ailing mother, who passed away in 1993. She went on to extend that compassion for the world’s children by bringing a solution to those who were suffering from high levels of stress.

“I was moved by the statistics about the increase in school violence and bullying, youth depression and suicide, and I was concerned about the persistent failure of the education system to help children cope and flourish.”

With this heartfelt desire The Hawn Foundation created MindUP 13 years ago. It is a program grounded in neuroscience, activated by mindful awareness, inspired by positive psychology and known as a catalyst for social emotional learning. Ms. Hawn said, “I see children as bundles of pure potential and wanted to create a program that helped children to grow, learn and lead in a very different kind of world.”

Photo Credit: MindUP.com

The perception of children as “bundles of pure potential” lays the groundwork for MindUP’s main goal: to teach children about their brains. Although the program does not go into the details of advanced neuroscience, it does teach children about the main parts of the brain and the science behind how the brain influences their thinking, emotions and behavior. Once children start making connections between what they are thinking, how they are feeling and how they are acting, they will gain the power to make more mindful choices. For example, they will learn to stop and pause before reacting. This self-regulation will lead to better focus in school, increased cooperation with others and improved self-awareness and discernment.

Goldie Hawn counts the work of The Hawn Foundation among her greatest achievements. Her heart for children is changing the world. She is pictured here with her grandson, Wilder. Picture: Trunkarchive.com/SnapperMedia

Ms. Hawn recently shared one of her favorite success stories from the program.

“One boy in London was having a real problem in school. Children come to school with a lot of problems and we don’t even know what they are. This little one had serious parental problems and he was aggressive, angry, disruptive and unhappy. After the program, he became a changed boy. He was nine or 10 and the most beautiful child. He said if it wasn’t for the program, he wouldn’t be able to have the life he’s having now. I know many stories like that. There are so many issues our children deal with. We think they’re just kids, that they just play and go to school, but they are so stressed. When we are able to give them tools to recognize their own stress, it puts them in the driver’s seat.”

Ms. Hawn’s program is producing success stories like this one all over the world by serving nearly 1 million children in the US, Canada, UK, Serbia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

She, like all good teachers, is preparing students for life. She is walking her calling by putting her heart into her actions. All the while inspiring others to do the same.

Please join us at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, for Goldie Hawn’s life-changing lecture about investing in the hearts, and brains, of our children.

Goldie Hawn lecture tickets are $50 and include Show admission. Please visit womensboardwch.com to reserve your tickets.

Written by Mollie Peterson

Mollie Peterson lives in Jacksonville with her husband Matthew. She is a member of the Art & Antiques Show Social Media Committee. Mollie is a teacher at JWJ College Prep, the creator of the blog HOSTandSERVE, and a grateful stroke survivor.

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