Karen Gordon
Encyclopedia
Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer (born as Villeneuve; in 1972, Edmonton
, Canada
), also known as Karen Gordon, is a Canadian social entrepreneur and former model. She is the founder and CEO of Whole Child International
, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization
(NGO) that works to improve the quality of care for vulnerable children in childcare institutions and orphanages worldwide.
, Alberta
, Canada, the eldest of three children. Her father’s job as a national parks administrator took the family to twenty-three homes and ten schools throughout her childhood; Spencer has credited this experience as the foundation for her interest in helping children without a stable home.
While attending a parenting class in Los Angeles, Spencer was introduced to the dynamic child-rearing approach of Emmi Pikler
(1902–1984), a Hungarian pediatrician and child development expert who established the Pikler Institute in Budapest for children orphaned during World War II. After visiting the Institute, Spencer was motivated to found the nonprofit Whole Child International in 2004. She sought to target the early development needs of vulnerable children in institutions using methodology developed by Pikler.
In 2006, Whole Child began working with the Government of Nicaragua
to train caregivers at the El Divino Niño children’s home in Managua
. The organization now has agreements with the governments of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Haiti to help improve the quality of childcare in orphanages, integrate basic Whole Child principles into their regulatory framework, and create local capacity at both a governmental and academic level for best practices in childcare. These programs are currently being brought to scale with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank
, TACA Airlines, and SISEL International under their 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, which was announced at CGI’s Annual Meeting on September 24, 2009.
Spencer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
and the Clinton Global Initiative. She currently lives in Pacific Palisades, California.
, a Hollywood producer whose films include Saving Private Ryan
and The Patriot
. The couple, however, divorced in 2003. Together they have two daughters, aged 10 and 12.
On 18 June 2011 she married Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
at Althorp
. The Earl Spencer is the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales
and an author and broadcaster. As a result of her marriage, Karen Spencer is styled The Rt. Hon. The Countess Spencer. Through her marriage to The Earl Spencer, she is aunt of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales
. On April 29th 2011 she attended the wedding of her nephew Prince William, Duke of Cambridge to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), also known as Karen Gordon, is a Canadian social entrepreneur and former model. She is the founder and CEO of Whole Child International
Whole Child International
Whole Child International is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization founded in 2004. Whole Child focuses on improving the quality of care for vulnerable children worldwide by working within childcare institutions and orphanages....
, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) that works to improve the quality of care for vulnerable children in childcare institutions and orphanages worldwide.
Life and career
Spencer was born in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada, the eldest of three children. Her father’s job as a national parks administrator took the family to twenty-three homes and ten schools throughout her childhood; Spencer has credited this experience as the foundation for her interest in helping children without a stable home.
While attending a parenting class in Los Angeles, Spencer was introduced to the dynamic child-rearing approach of Emmi Pikler
Emmi Pikler
Emmi Pikler was a Hungarian pediatrician who introduced new theories of infant education, and put them into practice at an orphanage she ran.-Life:...
(1902–1984), a Hungarian pediatrician and child development expert who established the Pikler Institute in Budapest for children orphaned during World War II. After visiting the Institute, Spencer was motivated to found the nonprofit Whole Child International in 2004. She sought to target the early development needs of vulnerable children in institutions using methodology developed by Pikler.
In 2006, Whole Child began working with the Government of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to train caregivers at the El Divino Niño children’s home in Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
. The organization now has agreements with the governments of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Haiti to help improve the quality of childcare in orphanages, integrate basic Whole Child principles into their regulatory framework, and create local capacity at both a governmental and academic level for best practices in childcare. These programs are currently being brought to scale with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
, TACA Airlines, and SISEL International under their 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, which was announced at CGI’s Annual Meeting on September 24, 2009.
Spencer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
and the Clinton Global Initiative. She currently lives in Pacific Palisades, California.
Marriages and children
She married in 1997 with Mark GordonMark Gordon
Mark Gordon is an American television and film producer.- Background :Gordon was born in Newport News, Virginia on October 10, 1956...
, a Hollywood producer whose films include Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It was directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Robert Rodat. The film is notable for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depicts the Omaha Beach assault of June 6, 1944....
and The Patriot
The Patriot (2000 film)
The Patriot is a 2000 historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Robert Rodat, and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, and Heath Ledger. It was produced by the Mutual Film Company and Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
. The couple, however, divorced in 2003. Together they have two daughters, aged 10 and 12.
On 18 June 2011 she married Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...
at Althorp
Althorp
Althorp is a country estate of about and a stately home in Northamptonshire, England. It is about north-west of the county town of Northampton. The late Diana, Princess of Wales is buried in the estate.-History:...
. The Earl Spencer is the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and an author and broadcaster. As a result of her marriage, Karen Spencer is styled The Rt. Hon. The Countess Spencer. Through her marriage to The Earl Spencer, she is aunt of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. On April 29th 2011 she attended the wedding of her nephew Prince William, Duke of Cambridge to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
.
Styles
- 19721997: Miss Karen Villeneuve
- 19972011: Mrs. Karen Gordon
- 2011present: The Rt Hon. The Countess Spencer