We are very excited to share that the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation officially announced our partnership today. They feel Live Like Sam is a great fit. We look forward to bringing our shared beliefs and visions to the world. Thank you Utah Olympic Legacy!
Here’s what Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation had to say about Live Like Sam and our partnership:
Park City, Utah (May 13, 2019) – Live Like Sam and LiveLikeSam.org have partnered with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation to collaborate and commit joint resources toward a shared vision of improving youth development in sport.
Live Like Sam is a non-profit organization founded by Ron Jackenthal. Jackenthal is the father of Park City native and a young man of strong character with world-class potential as an athlete – the late Sam Jackenthal. At just 15, Sam won the overall combined title at the U.S. Junior Freestyle Championship. In 2015, he was ranked as one of the top 60 men in the world and top 20 Under-18. Sam was also a top-ranked international inline skater.
The 16-year-old freeskiing champion passed away in 2015 from injuries suffered in a training accident in Australia. Since Sam’s passing, Live Like Sam has created and deployed the core principles of C.A.R.E.: Community, Athletics, Responsibility and Education – principles that guided Sam’s life. Live Like Sam programs create educational platforms with personal development-based curriculum, build strong community partnerships to provide youth with volunteer opportunities and award merit and need-based scholarships.
“Partnering with and supporting LiveLikeSam.org is not only a natural fit, it represents a shared belief and vision that youth development in sport needs increased attention beyond just athletic skill improvement,” said Colin Hilton, President & CEO at Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. “What the Olympic Movement needs today is more examples of sport organizations focusing on how to develop youth in our communities with a much broader set of skills and goals. We need to holistically develop our kids in sport with life skills as smartly outlined by the Live Like Sam ‘C.A.R.E.’ Guiding Principles.”
“The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation believes that true grassroots ‘Olympism’ entails well-planned programs following our motto to ‘Take Part, Reach Higher,’ Hilton said. “That is to have inclusive programs that are for all ages and ability levels – allowing kids to elevate their abilities through environments that are fun and engaging – all while allowing confidence to be built and learning how to set goals and reach heights they never could before. Having Live Like Sam as a partner will allow us to work together in further creating curriculum and coach education in ways that we haven’t had the resources or time to focus on. I am truly excited about where we go from here!”
Matt Terwillegar, the Legacy Foundation’s sport senior programs manager has long championed sport program curriculum that is founded on best practices and methodology – rather than solely focusing on technical skill development.
“Much of the challenge in coaching youth programs is that traditional coaching styles and curriculum seldom get tailored enough to be age appropriate,” Terwillegar said. “Furthermore, they don’t place enough emphasis on inner motivation, accountability, responsibility and gratitude. Having Live Like Sam as a partner organization will be extremely beneficial as their efforts will start to fill this curriculum void.”
The partnership will greatly benefit both organizations as the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation will provide Live Like Sam a statewide distribution platform from which to promote its mission, curriculum and philanthropy. Live Like Sam will provide the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and the sport clubs it oversees access to its curriculum based on C.A.R.E. principles.
“Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation’s program philosophy is a natural fit with our organization’s philosophy,” Ron Jackenthal said. “I see young athletes, their families, programs and communities greatly benefiting from the LiveLikeSam.org programs and curriculum. I see Live Like Sam as being highly complementary to Utah’s Olympic Legacy Foundation. We will bring focus and attention on youth sports by addressing the whole person – including their physical, mental and emotional health – while taking social factors into consideration versus only focusing on reaching the podium.”
Live Like Sam, although relatively new, has already started making significant contributions to the winter sports community. Since 2017, the Sam Jackenthal Fund has raised more than $150,000 supporting over 150 total awards. Additionally, in just a few months since expanding the organization, Live Like Sam has brought on over 25 community partners. Some of these partners include the United States Ski & Snowboard Association, Ski Utah, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Woodward, USASA, Utah’s own Youth Sports Alliance, Park City Ski & Snowboard, Park City Education Foundation, Christian Center of Park City, the Park City Community Foundation, and many more.
Sam’s passion and his go-big-or-go-home approach to sport prompted the young athletes he mentored to coin the phrase “Just Jackenthal It!” Sam gave them the courage and optimism to try new things, but he also reinforced his standards in life. He was tirelessly committed to his sport community and his community of friends.
“This is a huge motivator and reminder for me and many others daily to be present, laugh often and have fun,” Ron Jackenthal said. “This is how Sam lived his life and how we will continue to transform our loss into legacy.”
#JoinTheMovement at LiveLikeSam.org and follow LiveLikeSam.org #LiveLikeSam. In addition, please consider donating and promoting Live Like Sam to your community and social media network.
Visit UtahOlympicLegacy.org for more information about the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation.
About Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is a Utah nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization responsible for managing and maintaining world-class facilities and providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate and excel in winter sport. Inspired by the success and momentum of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games, considered by many the most successful Winter Games ever staged, the Foundation has placed a focus on embracing, engaging and involving Utah’s youth in winter sport. The Foundation supports national sport organizations and community recreational winter sport programs, as well as subsidizes the operation of three Olympic venues: Utah Olympic Oval, Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. For more information, please visit UtahOlympicLegacy.org or call 435-658-4200.
About Live Like Sam
Live Like Sam wants every young athlete to be able to develop the confidence and utilize the tools necessary to excel in life – as an athlete and as a person. Live Like Sam empowers the positive personal development of young athletes through educational programs and services, community-based partnerships, and merit and need-based scholarships. For more information, visit www.livelikesam.org