About Our Founder
Lisa Mennet, Ph.D.
Perigee Fund was founded in 2018 by Lisa Mennet, PhD, a psychologist and leader in the field of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). As a philanthropist, she observed a need and opportunity for philanthropic focus on the social emotional development of the youngest children, particularly when affected by adversity, and to boldly include primary caregivers in the early childhood equation. Perigee Fund was born because babies can’t wait.
Recent Coverage
Seattle Times: To heal society, we must start with babies | Mental Health Perspectives
July 8, 2025
In the Seattle Times Mental Health Perspectives Column, Perigee Fund Founder Lisa Mennet reflects on her early experiences as a family therapist and how they influenced her understanding of infant and early childhood mental health.
Kansas City Star: Missouri and Kansas families rely on Medicaid. Defend it – now | Opinion
June 2, 2025
Perigee Fund founder Lisa Mennet, PhD urges lawmakers in Washington to protect Medicaid and the mental well-being of caregivers and children in the op-ed, “Missouri and Kansas families rely on Medicaid. Defend it – now,” published in The Kansas City Star.
Interest to Impact Podcast: Lisa Mennet of Perigee Fund on infant and maternal mental health
March 31, 2021
The Interest to Impact podcast has insightful, short interviews on a broad array of topics related to having an impact in mental health philanthropy. Lisa Mennet, Phd, shares how Perigee Fund remains anchored in the values, insights, and experiences she has gained as an infant mental health therapist to families and children, a clinical educator, and a mentor to early childhood professionals.
“Our whole system of supports for little ones and their parents would look completely different if the brain science of early development was more widely understood.”
— Dr. Lisa Mennet
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