Nearly one percent of babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
Lil’ Owl Heart Hero Foundation · An impact charity
A little comfort.
A lifetime of courage.
Every dollar donated provides books and plush companions to children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Together, we bring courage, comfort, and hope to children facing heart care.
A world of hope, through Lil’ Owl’s eyes.Understanding the need · CHD awareness
Behind every number,
a child and a family.
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. Medical progress has changed survival; Lil’ Owl exists to help change the emotional journey, too.
About 40,000 babies are born with a heart defect in the United States each year.
More than 90% of children born with CHD now survive into adulthood.
Sources: CDC and American Heart Association.
Our mission
Small wings.
A powerful purpose.
Lil’ Owl Heart Hero Foundation is an impact charity bringing books and plush companions to children with congenital heart disease.
Every dollar donated supports this mission: giving children a story that reflects their courage and a comforting friend to hold.
Through meaningful, heart-centered experiences, we nurture resilience, spark joy, and share a message that every little heart is powerful and full of light.
Your donation in action
Books in little hands.
Comfort close to heart.
Every dollar donated provides books and plush companions to children with CHD. Here is the difference your support helps make.
Courage through stories
A hero who understands.
Your support provides storybooks that help children feel seen and find words for fear, healing, and hope.
Explore the storybooks →
Comfort that stays close
A friend to hold.
Your support provides a soft Lil’ Owl companion to hold during hospital stays, recovery, and the journey home.
Meet the comfort companion →
Reaching children with CHD
Hope beyond the page.
Our mission connects your generosity with children facing heart care, bringing them books, plush companions, and a reminder that they are not alone.
Explore a partnership →Our purpose is simple: turn every donation into books and plush companions for children with CHD.
Stories that support the mission
A small owl.
A powerful journey.
Lil’ Owl Heart Hero
Lil’ Owl: Heart Hero follows a little owl born with a heart that needs extra care. As she moves through fear, healing, and the unfamiliar world of heart care, the love of her family helps her discover that her stitched heart is not something to hide—it is the mark of a hero.
“Your heart is your superpower.”
More than a story
A familiar friend for unfamiliar moments.
Children with heart conditions face more than physical pain. The book creates language for fear, loneliness, recovery, and hope—without losing the wonder of a true children’s adventure.
- For childrenA hero who shares their journey.
- For familiesA gentle way to begin hard conversations.
- For care teamsAn emotional bridge before and after procedures.
The problem
Children with CHD face more than physical pain.
Even with excellent medical care, children can face deep emotional and psychological challenges that medicine alone cannot address.
Fear & anxiety
Before procedures and during hospital stays.
Loneliness
Emotional distance from home, school, and familiar routines.
Few relatable characters
Children deserve heroes who understand their journey.
A need for courage
Tools that comfort, empower, and stay close.
The hospital hero kit
One story.
A companion to hold.
Our vision extends beyond the page: a comforting set designed for hospital rooms, recovery days, and the journey home. Each kit can pair Lil’ Owl’s story with a stitched-heart companion and child-friendly courage tools.
Illustrated storybookComfort plushCourage activitiesCaregiver resources
Bring Lil’ Owl to your hospital →Our story
Rooted in family.
Driven by compassion.
Built by two siblings. For millions of children. Lil’ Owl grows from a family’s lived experience into a shared mission of courage and care.
Francesco Civetta
Founder & creative directorA New York–born creative director, entrepreneur, and advocate whose work spans music, fashion, culture, and purpose-driven storytelling. Francesco transformed his family’s experience into a character children can carry with them.
Cristina Civetta
Chief of marketing & co-founderBorn with congenital heart disease, Cristina has undergone seven lifesaving open-heart surgeries. Her lived experience and advocacy shape Lil’ Owl’s mission to support children and families navigating the same uncertainty.
Every dollar. Books and plush. Children with CHD.
Put courage into little hands.
Every dollar you donate to Lil’ Owl Heart Hero Foundation provides books and plush companions to children with congenital heart disease. Give a story that inspires courage and a friend a child can hold close.
Every young patient deserves a reminder that their heart is strong—and their journey matters.Hospital, sponsor, or publishing partner? Let’s talk →
Help a little heart feel seen.
Your gift provides books and plush companions to children with CHD.
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