Kate Winslet has founded a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for people with autism around the world. Compelled during her narration of a documentary titled A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism, about a young Icelandic boy named Keli living with autism, Winslet became motivated to make a difference. Upon meeting Keli’s mother, Margret, Winslet was deeply moved by her far-reaching journey to find a way for her nonverbal son to learn to communicate. Her experience motivated the establishment of the Golden Hat Foundation. “The Golden Hat” was the title of a poem written by 12-year-old Keli Thorsteinsson.

The mission of the Golden Hat Foundation is the establishment of innovative living communities that offer people with autism the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively, receive an education, job training and enjoy recreational activities, all within a supportive social network. When given a suitable education and the means to communicate effectively, people with autism can truly realize their dreams.

The Golden Hat has partnered with Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. To support the cause, donations can be made online at www.goldenhatfoundation.org and www.virginunite.com/goldenhat.

“After watching the film A Mother’s Courage with my daughter one day, she turned to me and asked, ‘What if I wasn’t able to talk to you mummy?'” said Golden Hat Foundation director and founder, Kate Winslet. “As I thought about what that meant, for a mother not to be able to talk with her own child, I realized that I had to lend my voice to raise awareness of this rapidly increasing disorder.”

Continue reading Kate Winslet creates foundation to help those with autism

Kate Winslet’s romance with British model Louis Dowler is moving at such a breakneck pace that she has asked him to live with her while she makes her next film in Chicago.

Kate — who split from director Sam Mendes earlier this year — has been inseparable from Louis since they met this summer.

And with her commitments to new film Contagion likely to keep her in the Windy City for several months, friends say the 34-year-old star of Titanic wants her new man to keep her company there.

Says a chum: “Kate hates the idea of having a long-distance relationship, even for a short period of time.

“They are absolutely smitten. They loathe being apart and so are taking their romance to the next level.

“Kate has been relatively free of work commitments since her split with Sam so she and Louis have managed to enjoy lots of time together. But that is all about to change as she gets her teeth into this next movie and she will be spending a lot of time away from home.

“They have discussed the idea of Louis going with her while she films so they won’t have to endure a long-distance relationship at such an early stage in what seems to be something pretty serious. Kate hasn’t been this happy in a very long time.”

While she is in Chicago filming Contagion, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Matt Damon, Kate will juggle the care of her children — Mia, nine, and six-year-old Joe — with New York-based Mendes.

But she doesn’t have to worry about Louis, 34, lending a hand with the child-minding as friends say he has also captured her youngsters’ hearts.

A spokesperson for Louis declined to comment but confirmed that his schedule was clear from October.

A spokesman for Kate also declined to comment.

Source: Mail Online