Meet Our Founders
Jan Helson, a dedicated philanthropist and businesswoman, has spent her life striving to build meaningful connections and positively impact her community. For two decades, she and her husband, Tim, developed their family business, a niche food manufacturing company, Golden Foods & Golden Brands, into a $200 million global leader within the fats & oils field, while simultaneously owning and operating a real estate investment and development company. After selling the business in 2011, at the age of 51, Jan joined forces with her daughter, Rachel, to coauthor two award winning children’s books, Philanthropy: A Big Word for Big Hearted People and The Global Game Changers, which became impetus for founding The Global Game Changers Student Empowerment Program in 2013.
Building on lessons that she taught her own children about philanthropy, the program has since developed into a robust, evidence-based in-school and afterschool program available nationwide through an online portal, implemented across all 50 states, 17 countries, and has impacted 250,000+ students.
Jan has remained an active leader in the organization while also serving on the University of Louisville Nystrand Center of Excellence in Education Advisory Board. A lifelong Louisville native, Jan has two grown children and lives with her husband and Australian Shepherd, Amigo.
Rachel Annette Helson is a film director in New York City.
Her latest short film GOOD DAUGHTER starring Samantha Sloyan (MIDNIGHT MASS, GREY’S ANATOMY) and written by Jesse Harris (JESSICA JONES) is currently on the festival circuit where it has been an Official Selection of HollyShorts, Spokane International FF, Centre FF and Catalina FF (Best Actress Nomination, Samantha Sloyan.) The short is currently being developed into a feature.
Other feature film directing credits include THE ENGAGEMENT DRESS (2023,) HOW TO LIVE YOUR BEST DEATH (2022) and THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW (2021.) Her 2019 short film HATCHED (starring Melissa Ponzio) played at festivals across the US, and in recognition of her work, she was named a New Director to Watch by Shoot Online Magazine.
As a character-driven director, Rachel is heavily influenced by her acting background. Select credits include: FULL CIRCLE (directed by Steven Soderbergh – Tribeca 2023 Premiere), THE KNICK, LAW & ORDER: SVU, POWER and the Netflix film THE POLKA KING (Sundance Premiere).
Rachel is a proud member of Film Fatales, the Alliance of Women Directors and SAG-AFTRA – as well as an alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She holds the distinction of being the Youngest Producer in Broadway history to be Nominated for a Tony Award for her work on Neil LaBute’s REASONS TO BE PRETTY – and has been featured in publications like the New York Times, Backstage and Forbes.
Anne Walker
Co-Founder and
chief program & Curriculum Officer
Anne Walker is the Chief Program and Curriculum Officer and co-founder of Global Game Changers® (GGC). Since helping launch the organization in 2013 with Jan Helson and Rachel Annette Helson, Anne has played a central role in developing GGC’s curriculum and educational programming. Built around the Superpower Equation, MY TALENT + MY HEART = MY SUPERPOWER!®, her work helps children discover their strengths, connect with causes they care about, and build the confidence and leadership skills to make a difference. Anne has developed dozens of lessons and resources, secured and managed private and government grants, presented at education conferences, and trained hundreds of educators. Today, GGC reaches educators in all 50 states and 17 countries and has impacted more than 350,000 students.
A longtime writer and researcher, Anne’s career has spanned the nonprofit, academic, political, and business sectors. Before Global Game Changers, she served on the staff of former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.
Board of Directors
- Ashley Novak Butler, Novak Family Foundation
- Jan Helson, Helson Development
- Rachel Annette Helson, Jora Creative
- Jay Saling, Saling Wealth Advisors
- Justin Walker, U.S. Circuit Judge
- Deborah Walker, Civic Volunteer
Advisory Board &
National Ambassadors
- Dr. Judi Vanderhaar, Program Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education - Lisa Middelton, Regional Director
YMCA School Age Child Care - Hannah Harvey, 4th Grade Teacher, North Carolina
- Amber Nichols, Kindergarten Teacher, West Virginia
- Lexe Hudson, Dance Educator, Arizona