Calvin Dennis grew up in Georgia and Tallahassee, Florida. In high school he played football and baseball, then earned a football scholarship to the University of West Georgia.
At 17, he lost his mother, Laurina, to pancreatic cancer six months after her diagnosis. In 2009, Calvin survived a car accident that took the life of his friend Willie Pitts. A year later, he lost another close friend, Maron Butler, in a car accident. Those losses shaped everything that came after.
In 2012, Calvin started Liveblackheart to honor his mother and carry her spirit forward. Today he works in live sports television for ESPN, and the brand has grown into a platform for storytelling and community.
Read Calvin’s Full Story
The Meaning Behind the Mark
Instead of heartbreak, the bolt stands for the strength you gain through life's experiences.
Resilience.Strength earned through the hardest seasons of life.
Connection.Stories that remind people they are not alone.
Purpose.Turning what hurt into something that helps others.
Brand
Apparel
Apparel designed to help you wear your story. Swap your heart patch anytime with Pick Your Heart™.
Shop Pick Your Heart™ →
Brand
Heart Talks
Conversations with athletes, artists, and everyday people about the moments that shaped them.
Watch the stories →
Brand + Nonprofit
Heart Cards
Share encouragement or remembrance and support a community partner with every card.
Send a Heart Card →
Nonprofit
Hope Connect Inc.
Our 501(c)(3) advances storytelling, education, and service through Heart Story Academy and scholarships. Donations are tax deductible (EIN 82-0737923).
Learn about Hope Connect →
LiveBlackHeart® is a brand of LVBH LLC.
