KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
For over 48 years, the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge (KHC) has partnered with schools across the country to bring heart health, lifesaving skills, and a whole lot of fun to students and families. The program encourages families to learn Hands-Only CPR, celebrate heart and stroke survivors in the community, motivate healthy habits at home, and reward students with awesome Thank-You Gifts for their fundraising efforts.
During my time with the American Heart Association, I led all creative for the School Engagement team — overseeing everything from print materials and digital experiences to the wildly popular characters and Thank-You Gifts. As acting Creative Director, I streamlined our print materials for maximum impact, introduced the beloved Mystery Gifts (which added serious excitement), and brought fresh energy to our digital content. Developing new characters, designing fun products and having my kids engage in KHC yearly is what made this my favorite program by far.
Role
Art Director + Illustrator
Project
Annual Campaigns
Animation + Video
CRM Studios
Years Active
2020-2025
Let the Games Begin!
In a spirited and strategic launch of Life’s Essential 8 for Kids, School Engagement Directors transformed kickoff assemblies into high-energy game show experiences—think Family Feud meets Double Dare! Students tested their heart health knowledge with multiple-choice trivia and jumped into 30-second physical challenges, all while getting hands-on with the exciting new Thank-You Gifts. The result? Learning, laughter, and lots of movement—just the way we like it!
Celebrating a Legacy of Lifesavers!
For more than a century, the American Heart Association has been at the forefront of lifesaving and life-changing research. In honor of its 100th anniversary, the nation’s oldest and largest heart-focused nonprofit marked this historic milestone with a global celebration. Through the Kids Heart Challenge, School Engagement Directors brought commemorative kickoff assemblies directly to schools, engaging students and educators in honoring the remarkable achievements of the past century—and inspiring continued commitment to heart health and scientific advancement for generations to come.
Be the Torch!
This year’s annual campaign embraced a simple yet spirited message: Be the torch! Students were inspired to practice heart-healthy habits, share their enthusiasm, and ignite positive change across the globe. School Engagement Directors brought the fun by surprising students with inflatable torches and handed them out to those already registered—creating a buzz that was impossible to miss.
This lighthearted, low-cost fixture quickly became a hot commodity, and with it came record-breaking registration numbers for the Kids Heart Challenge. A small spark turned into a wildfire of excitement!
Jump on Board!
After the long pause of the COVID era, people were more than ready to get out of the house and reconnect with the world. So, we dreamed up a surreal adventure—one that let students and educators travel through the open roads of our beautiful country while picking up powerful tools like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and the magic of kindness along the way.
