The Golden Hat Foundation is a nonprofit organisation founded by actress Kate Winslet and Margret Ericsdottir in 2010.[1][2] The two met while Winslet was filming the documentary A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism, which focused on Ericsdottir's son Keli Thorsteinsson, who is autistic and non-verbal. The organization centers on raising strengths-focused autism awareness and states that their mission is to "Change the way people on the autism spectrum are perceived, by shining a light on their abilities and emphasizing their great potential."[3]
The organization takes its name from a poem written by Thorsteinsson, in which he described a magical golden hat that had the ability to speak for its protagonist, who was unable to speak.[4] In 2011 the Golden Hat Foundation paired with the cosmetics company Lancôme to create a golden hat themed makeup collection,[5] with the intent for part of the proceeds to benefit the organization.[6]