SALT LAKE CITY, September 9, 2019 — Live Like Sam, a local nonprofit aimed to help young athletes reach their dreams and excel in life, along with Youth Sports Alliance Park City (YSA) today announced Alex Mallen, Brynn Roberts, Emma Page, Jaqueline Kanzler, Kate Pessgrove, Lillie Walden, Lucas Fassio, Luke Jackson, Macey Shomaker, Rachael Haerter, and Teagan Kelley as the winners of the first-ever Gratitude Grant Merit Scholarship. Each will be awarded a merit-based scholarship for proving not only exceptional athletic ability, but demonstrated commitment to the Live Like Sam guiding principles and YSA Building Blocks for Life.
“Each of these young athletes defines what it means to not only be incredibly skilled, but to be real stewards for social responsibility and gratitude to others,” said Ron Jackenthal, founder of Live Like Sam. “I’m proud to present these young people with the first-ever Gratitude Grant. They are amazing kids who are incredibly deserving and committed to their community.”
The Gratitude Grant Merit Scholarship was a joint effort by Live Like Sam and YSA to reward young athletes in Summit and Wasatch County who demonstrate exceptional character. Each applicant was required to submit a short video, 250-word essay, and four hand-written thank-you notes to illustrate how they apply gratitude to their daily lives.
“We are so grateful to all who took the time to apply,” said Emily Fisher, executive director of YSA. “It was a very difficult selection process due to the sheer volume of worthy candidates in the area, and we actually ended up adding more winners than originally anticipated! I’m proud to present these young athletes with the first of what I hope to be many Gratitude Grants that join the YSA Circle of Excellence Awards in the future.”
Winners will receive their awards at the YSA Circle of Excellence Awards ceremony to be held September 29, 2019 at Skull Candy Headquarters. For additional information about Live Like Sam, visit www.livelikesam.org. More information about YSA can be found at www.ysaparkcity.org.
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About Live Like Sam
Live Like Sam is a Park City nonprofit founded after the sudden and tragic end to the life of internationally-ranked freestyle skier and competitive inline rollerblader, Sam Jackenthal. After a skiing accident in Australia led to Sam’s death, his father built the Live Like Sam Foundation to help spread Sam’s love for sports and help young athletes develop their skills and character by providing them with educational opportunities and exciting sporting experiences. Live Like Sam also advocates for anti-bullying through its various partnerships and developing CARE Curriculum.
About Youth Sports Alliance Park City
The Youth Sports Alliance supports youth sports activities in Summit and Wasatch counties, promoting good sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles through participation, education, and competition. Serving 13 different winter sports teams and touching the lives of over 2,000 youth, YSA also provides over 150 scholarships each year to assist local families with the fees associated with winter sports from beginner programs to elite-level competitors.