Millie Wright
Parent of Benjamin (Mgmt’18)
Over three decades ago, Millie Wright discovered the practice of mindfulness — and it changed her life.
After experiencing anxiety and depression during a tough time, Millie learned how mindfulness could help her be fully present and alive in her body and mind. Through mindfulness meditation and other exercises, she learned to handle stress more effectively, regulate her emotions and build a stronger, more resilient relationship with the world and other people.
“I’ve been a meditator for close to 34 years now,” she said. “It’s provided me with a really solid foundation in life.”
After her son enrolled at CU Boulder, Millie wanted to provide Buffs with a way to engage with the practice. She now helps fund a mindfulness research project through the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at CU.
The project’s goal is to design and implement mindfulness- and compassion-based programming for CU undergraduates. As well as creating more resiliency and a grounded foundation for students to meet life’s challenges, the project also builds community on campus and beyond. That way, in addition to their academics, students gain a more holistic education that prepares them for life after college.
Students themselves are part of the co-design process, creating programs that welcome people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities and backgrounds.
For other parents considering a gift to CU but not sure where to begin, Millie suggests starting with your larger purpose.
“What’s my intention? How do I want to help?” she advises. “Is it for me, or my student, or is it for the whole campus? What kind of experience do I want my child to have in college … and how can I support that?”
In her own life, Millie’s goal is an expansive legacy of wellness that starts at the individual level.
“I want to make my contribution to the betterment and growth of the human spirit and the well-being of all beings on Earth,” she said. “That begins with sharing my own knowledge about something that impacted and continues to impact my life.
“If it can have an impact on one person, I’m happy. If it can have an impact on many people, I’m very happy.”