Martha Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Hart
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Hart at the International Attachment Conference in New York City, 2019
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| Born |
Martha Joan Patterson
October 31, 1966 |
| Education | Psychology and sociology |
| Alma mater | University of Calgary (B.A.) University of Cambridge (M.A., PhD) |
| Occupation | Philanthropist, researcher |
| Spouse(s) |
Owen Hart
(m. 1989; died 1999) |
| Children | 2 |
| Family | Hart |
Martha Joan Hart (born October 31, 1966) is a Canadian woman known for her work as a philanthropist and researcher. She is the wife of the late professional wrestler Owen Hart. After her husband's death in an accident, Martha Hart took legal action against the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE).
She later wrote a popular book about Owen's life. She also started a charity in his name. Martha has been involved in legal cases about her husband's image. She continues her work as a philanthropist and researcher.
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About Martha Hart
Martha Joan Patterson was born on October 31, 1966. She was the youngest of eleven children. Her mother, Joan, faced breast cancer before Martha was born. Her father left her mother when Martha was young.
Martha studied at the University of Calgary. She earned degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Later, she moved to England. She completed her master's degree and a PhD at University of Cambridge. Her studies were in Social and Development Psychology. Since then, she has worked as a university researcher. Her research focuses on children's health.
Family Life
In 1982, when she was 15, Martha met Owen Hart. They were both in high school. She met Owen at a Stampede Wrestling event. She recognized him from a wrestling practice at her school. They got married on July 1, 1989. They had two children, Oje Edward Hart and Athena Christie Hart.
Owen died in an accident on May 23, 1999. This happened during a stunt at a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) event called Over the Edge.
Awards and Recognition
Because of her charity work with the Owen Hart Foundation, Martha has received many awards. In 2004, she was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year. In 2011, she was recognized as one of Calgary's Champions of Learning.
Martha Hart was named the 2017 Goodwill Ambassador for the Monaco International Film Festival. She has a long history with this film festival. She is also the Vice President of the Angel Film Awards there. In her free time, she writes a movie blog. It is called "Movie Meanings – Main Messages." The blog explores life lessons from movies.
Professional Work
Research Work
Martha Hart is a researcher at the University of Calgary and Alberta Children's Hospital. Her current research involves a program called ATTACH Intervention. This program looks at how parents' thoughts affect their bond with their children. She has shared her findings at many international conferences.
The ATTACH Program gets funding from Harvard University. It is part of their "Frontiers of Innovation" projects. In 2019, Martha Hart and Nicole Letourneau launched the ATTACH™ Program online.
Before joining the University of Calgary, Martha worked at the University of Cambridge. She researched how families share tasks and choose childcare. Her past research also looked at how children's behavior and self-esteem develop. She studied how friendships, siblings, and teachers affect children. She also looked at how a mother's parenting style and mental health impact her children.
She has written several research papers. One of her articles was highly cited in 2020–2021. She has also helped edit and write books about child development.
Owen Hart Foundation
In December 2000, Martha Hart started the Owen Hart Foundation. This charity is based in Calgary. It helps children in need by providing university and college scholarships. It also helps low-income families find housing.
The Owen Hart Foundation supports many other charities in Calgary. It provides scholarships and housing. It also offers help to communities around the world. This includes food drives, backpack giveaways, and Christmas projects.
Every year, Martha hosts a special event to raise money for the foundation. These events honor Owen Hart. From 2000 to 2003, the events supported a shelter for abused women. Since 2004, the events have featured famous guest stars. These stars have included Jerry Seinfeld, Ringo Starr, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, and Sarah McLachlan. In 2020, Jerry Seinfeld returned for the foundation's 20th Anniversary. In 2021, Canadian comedian Russell Peters performed.
Martha started the Owen Hart Foundation to create a lasting memory for Owen. She knew he would be happy to see people being helped in his name. Education was very important to both of them.
In September 2021, the Owen Hart Foundation partnered with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This partnership helps honor Owen Hart's legacy. AEW now hosts an annual tournament called the "Owen Hart Cup". They also create Owen Hart-themed items. These include action figures, clothes, and posters. Owen will also appear in an AEW video game. In May 2022, Martha Hart appeared at AEW's Double or Nothing event. She congratulated the first winners of the Owen Hart Cup.
Book Writing
In 2002, Martha Hart began writing a book. It is called Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart. The book was released in 2004. It tells the story of her life with Owen, from when they met as teenagers. It also shares the life they built with their two children.
Her book became a #1 Best Seller in Canada. It has been published in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. All the money she earns from the book goes to charity.
