Photo: Live Like Sam 2021

The Live Like Sam Gala strives to be more than just an event; it's a movement to foster a supportive community for the youth in Park City

PARK CITY, Utah — The Live Like Sam Gala is set for Sept. 21 at The Marquis, aiming to support critical youth mental health programs in Summit and Wasatch counties.

The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to midnight and features an open bar, passed appetizers, craft cocktails, dinner, live music, dancing, a live and silent auction, and an opportunity drawing. The Gala seeks to bring the community back to Main Street and to take advantage of The Marquis’ recent $1.5 million upgrades to its sound and light systems, making it an epic historical venue that has been completely modernized.

Gala Tickets

Over $300,000 in live and silent auction packages will be available. A gourmet three-course dinner will be served by Done To Your Taste Catering. Guests can enjoy music from American Idol star Wyatt Pike during dinner and dance to the nationally acclaimed headline band Super Diamond.

During dinner, guests will enjoy music from American Idol star Wyatt Pike, known for combining acoustic and common pop elements into his own unique style. Although Pike cites influential artists, including Anders Osborne, Andy Shauf, and Phoebe Bridgers, for his sound, his mastery of storytelling makes him a standout on his own.

Super Diamond in concert. Photo: Susan J. Weiand

Then, dance the night away to the nationally acclaimed headline band Super Diamond—an uncanny tribute band to beloved American pop icon Neil Diamond. Super Diamond has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and for three decades, San Francisco’s Super Diamond has become one of the most popular live shows at major nightclubs, theaters, ballrooms, festivals, and public events throughout the United States.

Live Like Sam is the region’s premier youth well-being and prevention non-profit, delivering positive programming in honor of the late Parkite Sam Jackenthal. Sam’s legacy inspires all youth to lead fulfilling lives, embodying his spirit of adventure and compassion.

The Gala directly supports the Live Like Sam Foundation, which provides $500,000 worth of free mental health and prevention programming for grades K-12 in the greater community of Summit and Wasatch counties. These initiatives benefit thousands of local K -12 students by equipping them with essential tools and life skills to navigate today’s challenging world.

“Utah is currently facing a mental health crisis, with 400,000 young individuals requiring support for their mental well-being. 74% of students in Summit County experience intense symptoms of depression, while 46% need mental health treatment,” Ron Jackenthal shared. “Our foundation continues to see the incredible gap in our community’s well-being, including our local youth’s mental and emotional health needs. These have been exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19 and two other mental health organizations leaving the community last fall, Connect Summit County and Communities That Care.”

The Live Like Sam Foundation’s Thrive program, developed by WeBeWell, for which registration is now open, offers a comprehensive mental and emotional well-being curriculum. The program includes workshops, peer support groups, and educational resources designed to help youth develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and coping skills.

“My vision for Live Like Sam is to elevate the conversation in our community around why mental and emotional health needs are of similar importance to physical fitness. Mental health is a tough thing for a lot of people to discuss both inside and outside of the home, yet it’s crippling our community.”

The Live Like Sam Foundation’s Thrive programming and new initiatives, including a digital wellness program in partnership with Pixel Health, aim to address damaging and unhealthy relationships youth have with social media, cyberbullying, and 24-hour access to the Internet. Live Like Sam is also collaborating with the Park City Smart-Phone Kid’s Coalition to encourage parents and teens to take the “Wait until 8th” pledge, committed to building a supportive community of families dedicated to delaying smartphone introduction until the end of 8th grade.

The Live Like Sam Gala strives to be more than just an event; it’s a movement to foster a supportive community for Park City’s youth. Presale tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Gala are now available. For more information and to secure your tickets, visit Live Like Sam.

Gala Tickets