Originally published November 5, 2011, on PlanetHeart.com. This archived story documents a past community event. Registration, event schedules, and donation information from the original announcement are no longer active.
Original heart-based creativity supporting congenital heart research
At the 2011 Congenital Heart Walk, artist and inventor Tali Lehavi led the event’s only children’s craft entertainment through Planet Heart--a booth filled with heart-based activities. The Second Annual Congenital Heart Walk was held November 6 at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona, raising support for congenital heart research.
The 2011 event marked Planet Heart’s second year providing the craft booth, a role Lehavi continued for a total of 11 years. She designed and led all of the booth’s activities for the children who came to fundraise with their families.
Every activity featured original work created by Lehavi. Children drew in her Heart Mandala books, played building games with her trademark hearts, and created interactive images out of play-dough using her patented stencils and cookie cutters. There were many other original activities, from heart- games using Lehavi's Sponaps™, to crafts with glue and glitter. Children often dedicated their art to a family member and hung it around the booth's frame before picking it up at the end. The booth offered age-appropriate projects made entirely from hearts, along with previews of new Planet Heart inventions.
For families spending the beautiful morning walking and fundraising together, the Planet Heart booth offered children a dedicated place to create, play, and participate in the spirit of the event.
The HeartMark™ and Team Planet Heart
The HeartMark™ is the name of the heart hand gesture invented by Tali Lehavi, which Lehavi patented and trademarked. It represents Lehavi’s wider body of heart-centered creative work, including stories, artwork, books, activities, products, and educational concepts.
Through 11 years of original craft programming at the Congenital Heart Walk, Lehavi brought that creative world directly to children and families while supporting a cause centered on heart health and research.
Lehavi sent a big HeartMark™ to the friends, families, volunteers, and supporters who came together for the event.
Archive note: Expired registration times, donation instructions, and promotional references from the original announcement have been omitted.