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{{Short description|Canadian social entrepreneur (born 1972)}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaSocial entrepreneurship>Social entrepreneur| spouse = {{Ubl }}| children = 3}}Karen Anne Spencer, Countess Spencer (formerly Gordon, née Villeneuve; born June 6, 1972) is a Canadian social entrepreneur with a focus on systems change. Her varied career began as the founder of Whole Child International, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that works to improve the quality of care for vulnerable children. From its founding in 2004 she held the position of CEO, and is scheduled to transition to Chair in June 2024. She is the wife of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Life and career

Born Karen Anne Villeneuve in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, her father’s career as a National Parks administrator led to frequent relocations, resulting in her family residing in 23 homes and her attending 10 schools during her childhood. Spencer attributes this upbringing as the catalyst for her passion to establish Whole Child International, which supports children without stable homes.NEWS, Kerry A. Dolan, 12 February 2007, Adopting a Crusade, Forbes.com,www.forbes.com/home/free_forbes/2007/0212/076.html, dead, 9 February 2010,www.forbes.com/home/free_forbes/2007/0212/076.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20070207035658www.forbes.com/home/free_forbes/2007/0212/076.html,">web.archive.org/web/20070207035658www.forbes.com/home/free_forbes/2007/0212/076.html, February 7, 2007, Spencer was inspired to address the emotional needs of society’s most vulnerable children in 2004, after participating in a parenting class that introduced her to the attachment-based child-rearing approach of Emmi Pikler. Whole Child is currently implementing programs with funding from USAID and other donors.WEB, Donors - Whole Child International,www.wholechild.org/en/donors/, www.wholechild.org, In February 2010, the 14th Dalai Lama gave his support to Whole Child at the launch of its global initiative to raise awareness of the plight of institutionalized children.WEB, Humanitarian Award Honoree – His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - Whole Child International,www.wholechild.org/en/about/dalai-lama/, www.wholechild.org, Karen Spencer is co-author of articles published in the peer-reviewed Infant Journal of Mental Health and Perspectives in Infant Mental Health, contributing important insights and realistic solutions to the public debate. In September 2015, the Ashoka Foundation elected her an Ashoka Fellow Countess Spencer elected Ashoka, prnewswire.com; accessed 28 March 2016. for her social entrepreneurial work identifying and filling a gap in care for orphans and vulnerable children. In 2016 she was made a Fellow at the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom. In 2017, she received the Pikler/Lóczy USA Founders Award,WEB, 18 July 2017, Where Pikler meets Neuroscience – Pikler® Conference, October 28, 2017,pikler.org/2017/07/18/where-pikler-meets-neuroscience-pikler-conference-october-28-2017/, and People Magazine named her one of “25 Women Changing the World.“WEB, PEOPLE’s 25 Women Changing the World in 2017,people.com/celebrity/25-women-changing-the-world-in-2017/#karen-spencer,

Marriages and children

Karen Spencer married Mark Gordon, a Hollywood producer whose films and TV series include Saving Private Ryan, Speed, Grey’s Anatomy, and Criminal Minds, on November 8, 1997. The couple divorced in 2003. Together they have two daughters, Emma (b. 1998) and Kate (b. 2001).WEB, 2012-07-21, Diana’s Brother Ties The Knot For Third Time,news.sky.com/story/862804/dianas-brother-ties-the-knot-for-third-time, live,news.sky.com/story/862804/dianas-brother-ties-the-knot-for-third-time," title="archive.today/20120721184418news.sky.com/story/862804/dianas-brother-ties-the-knot-for-third-time,">archive.today/20120721184418news.sky.com/story/862804/dianas-brother-ties-the-knot-for-third-time, 2012-07-21, 2018-05-06, On June 25, 2011, Spencer married Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer at Althorp. The Earl Spencer is the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and is an author and broadcaster. As a result of her marriage, Karen Spencer is formally styled The Right Honourable The Countess Spencer, and is addressed as Lady Spencer.The Earl and Countess Spencer have one child together: Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer, born July 23, 2012 at Althorp,NEWS, 2013-05-05, Earl Spencer names baby daughter after Diana, Princess of Wales - Tel…,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9455832/Earl-Spencer-names-baby-daughter-after-Diana-Princess-of-Wales.html, live, 2018-06-19,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9455832/Earl-Spencer-names-baby-daughter-after-Diana-Princess-of-Wales.html," title="archive.today/20130505110429www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9455832/Earl-Spencer-names-baby-daughter-after-Diana-Princess-of-Wales.html,">archive.today/20130505110429www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9455832/Earl-Spencer-names-baby-daughter-after-Diana-Princess-of-Wales.html, 2013-05-05, and named in honour of her late aunt, Diana, Princess of Wales.

References

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External links

• {{Instagram|karenspencer|Karen Spencer}}
• Staff - website of Whole Child International