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 philanthropist and researcher. She is known as the wife of professional wrestler Owen Hart. After her husband's unexpected death in 1999, Martha Hart took legal action. She later wrote a popular book about Owen's life and started a charity in his name. She continues to work as a researcher and helps many people through her charity.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Martha Joan Patterson was born on October 31, 1966. She was the youngest of eleven children. She studied at the University of Calgary, earning degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Later, she moved to England to study at University of Cambridge, where she completed her master's degree and a PhD in Social and Development Psychology. She has since worked as a university researcher, focusing on children's health.
In 1982, when she was 15, Martha met Owen Hart in high school. They married on July 1, 1989. They had two children, Oje Edward Hart and Athena Christie Hart. Owen passed away on May 23, 1999, during a wrestling event.
Because of her work with the Owen Hart Foundation, Martha was recognized as the Individual Philanthropist of the Year in 2004. She was also named a Champion of Learning in Calgary in 2011. In 2017, she became the Goodwill Ambassador for the Monaco International Film Festival. She is also the Vice President of the Angel Film Awards for the festival. In her free time, she writes a blog called "Movie Meanings – Main Messages," where she explores life lessons from movies.
Professional Work
Research and Studies
Martha Hart is a researcher at the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children's Hospital. Her current research involves creating a program called ATTACH (Attachment and Child Health Intervention). This program looks at how parents' thoughts and feelings affect their children's development. She has shared her findings at many international conferences. The ATTACH Program receives funding from Harvard University. In 2019, Martha Hart and Nicole Letourneau launched the ATTACH™ Program online.
Before joining the University of Calgary, Martha worked as a researcher at the University of Cambridge. There, she studied how families share responsibilities and how parents choose childcare. She also worked on a long-term project that explored why some children develop behavior problems or low self-esteem. This research looked at how friendships, sibling relationships, and teacher interactions affect children. It also considered how a mother's well-being, like her self-esteem, impacts her child's social behavior.
Martha has published several research papers. One of her articles, published in the Infant Mental Health Journal, was highly cited in 2020–2021. She has also helped edit a book called Development and Adaptation: Seminal Papers on the Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation. She also co-authored another book titled Parenting and Child Development.
She has received special training from top universities like Yale, New School University New York, and Berkeley University. This training helps her understand and measure how children and parents connect. She is also certified in Suicide Prevention.
Owen Hart Foundation
In December 2000, Martha Hart started the Owen Hart Foundation. This charity is based in Calgary and helps children in need by providing university and college scholarships. It also helps low-income families find housing. The foundation supports many other charities in Calgary. It also provides scholarships, housing, and other 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 Owen Hart Foundation. These events honor Owen Hart's memory. From 2000 to 2003, the events supported a shelter for women. Starting in 2004, famous guest stars began performing at these events. Some of the stars have included Bob Newhart, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Howie Mandel, Jerry Seinfeld, Ringo Starr, Russell Brand, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Dane Cook, Seth Meyers, Elvis Costello, Sarah McLachlan, Alec Baldwin, and Russell Peters.
Martha has said that she started the Owen Hart Foundation to create a lasting legacy for Owen. She knew he would be happy that she was helping people in his name, especially with education, which was important to both of them.
In September 2021, the Owen Hart Foundation announced a partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This partnership helps honor Owen Hart's legacy. AEW hosts an annual tournament called the "Owen Hart Cup". They also create Owen Hart-themed merchandise, like action figures and clothing. Martha Hart appeared at the Double or Nothing event in May 2022. She congratulated the first male and female winners of the Owen Hart Cup, Adam Cole and Dr. Britt Baker.
Writing a Book
In 2002, Martha Hart began writing a book 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, and the family they built with their two children. Her book became a number one bestseller in Canada. It has also been published in other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. All the money she earned from the book goes to charity.
