Let's connect!
Enjoy Mill Valley
  • HOME
  • EVENTS & GUIDES
    • 2020-21 EMV Guide
    • 2021 Mill Valley Wine, Beer & Gourmet Food Tasting
    • Winterfest >
      • About Winterfest
    • Calendar
    • Special Events
  • EAT
  • Stay
  • VISIT
    • Muir Woods
    • PLAY
    • Tour
    • Map
    • PRESS
  • SHOP
    • Enjoy Mill Valley Store
    • Shopping Areas
    • Apparel and Jewelry
    • Automotive
    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Biz, Consumer & Professional Services
    • Beauty & Grooming
    • Fitness & Sports
    • Food & Wine
    • Home & Garden
    • Kids & Pets
    • Health & Wellness
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Real Estate
    • Specialty Shops
  • A&E
  • EMV Films
  • BLOG
  • Mill Valley Chamber
  • City of Mill Valley
  • CONTACT US
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise on Enjoy Mill Valley
  • ShopMV

Heart Esteem Foundation Gets Creative to Combat Emotional Causes and Impacts of Childhood Obesity

10/14/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
To call Gloria Maxx a creative dynamo would fall far short of reality.

As founder of Heart Esteem, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the emotional impacts of childhood obesity, the Toronto area native has charted a dizzying global itinerary over the past year, seeking momentum for an array of creative projects in places as far afield as Toronto, Dubai, Mexico City - and Mill Valley.

She’s reached out to Pope Francis, First Lady Michelle Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, trying to get each to “Draw a Heart” in an effort to create a viral art project that will have an accompanying app and a documentary chronicling the journey.

“I don’t have dreams any more,” says the former advertising executive. “I have goals.”

Maxx draws energy and determination for her campaign from her own battle with childhood obesity. “Childhood obesity and related mental and emotional issues have plagued and ravaged every aspect of my life,” she says.

By the time Maxx was 17 yearsold, she’d already tried to commit suicide twice. At that moment, she found solace - and hope - in Elton John’s song “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” By 28, she was 285 pounds. She had vertical banded gastroplasty surgery and lost 100 pounds as a result.

“But I didn’t fix my psychological or emotional issues, so I gained back a lot of the weight,” she says.
With so much attention paid to nutrition and exercise as ways to combat obesity, little attention is focused on the emotional drivers of over-eating, Maxx says.

“There’s no difference between me and an alcoholic,” she says. “But mine is socially acceptable. I won’t end up in jail but I might end up with diabetes. It’s like a drug - sugar is my cocaine. When you get depressed, you go have a milkshake.”

Maxx continues to draw on “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” for inspiration.

“Someone’s passion and creativity really helped me get through something,” she says.

Maxx is determined to see her vision through. In April 2015, she launched her campaign to have CEOs and leaders in 10 countries draw their own version of a heart on posterboard.The goal is to raise $10 million - $1 million in each of the 10 countries, including Canada, United States, Mexico and Italy - to raise awareness of the emotional and psychological causes and impacts of childhood obesity.

“I’ve really endured a lot of pain in my life. It’s too late for me in many ways. There are many things I cannot regain that I’ve lost. I’ve missed out on a lot in life. But I have survived because of my and other’s creativity and that’s what made it all ok for me.”

The effort is slated to last 100 weeks, with the scheduled conclusion being March 11, 2017, which will be Maxx’s 50th birthday. She’s hoping to have one million hearts drawn world-wide by then.

Maxx has close friends in Mill Valley, and was so drawn to the community that she’s been staying here in between her worldwide jaunts on behalf of HeartEsteem.


“I love this community and I’m hoping that my friends here will help to sprea thw word about this campaign,” she says. “I don’t care how I get this done, I’ve just got to get it done.”

The 411: More info on the Heart Esteem Foundation.


Want to know what's happening around town? Click here to subscribe to the Enjoy Mill Valley Blog by Email!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Subscribe to the free Enjoy Mill Valley Blog

    * required
    Click here to subscribe to the free Enjoy Mill Valley Blog by Email!

    RSS Feed

    Blog Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    142 Throckmorton
    Art
    Arts & Entertainment
    City Council
    City Of Mill Valley
    County Of Marin
    Depot Plaza
    Downtown Mill Valley
    Emergency Preparedness
    First Tuesday Artwalk
    Food & Drink
    Holidays
    Kiddo!
    Live Music
    Local Laws
    Marin Mommies
    Marin Theatre Company
    Miller Avenue
    Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
    Mill Valley Film Festival
    Mill Valley History
    Mill-valley-in-the-news
    Mill Valley Library
    Mill Valley Market
    Mill Valley School District
    Mount Tamalpais
    MV Chamber Biz Buzz
    Parks & Recreation
    Philanthropy
    Public Restrooms
    Restaurants
    Shopping
    Strawberry Village
    Sweetwater Music Hall
    Tam High
    Tam Junction
    Tam Valley
    The Redwoods
    Volunteerism

Picture
   
85 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, Callifornia 94941
415.388.9700
info@millvalley.org



Copyright 2018 Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
All images used with permission and/or source attribution.
Site Design by Linda Rosso Marketing and Communications