Empathy, kindness, and resilience take center stage in Park City’s Live Like Sam Week

Sam Jackenthal. Photo: by Live Like Sam Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — The Live Like Sam Foundation is working to instill kindness and empathy in students across all K-12 Park City schools as part of its annual celebration of Live Like Sam Week. Honoring the legacy of Sam Jackenthal, a young athlete known for his compassion and community spirit, the week-long event, from Nov. 11 to Nov. 15, encourages students of all ages to engage in acts of kindness and create a ripple effect of positivity throughout the community.

Live Like Sam is Summit and Wasatch counties’ dedicated youth well-being and prevention nonprofit, delivering impactful programming designed to address the youth mental health crisis and the unique challenges young people face today.

Jessica Parker, the foundation’s Programs Director, emphasized the urgent need for support, stating, “Today, youth mental health is a growing concern. The pressures of social media, the impact of the pandemic, and the demands of modern life have taken a toll on our youth. Many young people are struggling with anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.”

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Jackenthal’s story serves as a reminder that life is precious and each day should be lived to its fullest. His legacy underscores the importance of kindness as a powerful quality for making a positive impact on others. By choosing compassion and empathy, he showed others how to embrace life fully and lift up those around them. The foundation’s programming strives to impart these values, empowering young people with essential life skills to navigate challenges.

“The Live Like Sam Foundation is committed to addressing this crisis by providing essential life skills programs to young people,” Parker said. “Our evidence-based programs are designed to empower youth with the essential tools they need to navigate life’s challenges. By focusing on resilience, healthy coping mechanisms, and building strong support systems, we help young people build a solid foundation for their mental and emotional well-being.”

For Live Like Sam Week the foundation collabortes with student leadership clubs across the Park City School District, including Leadership, Latinos in Action, Hope Squad, and Student Council, who are taking the lead on various kindness-focused projects. Each club has brainstormed kindness activities that they’ll implement during lunch and advisory periods throughout Live Like Sam Week. These activities range from “kindness bingo” to “empathy shares,” where students write down moments when they experienced unkindness, sharing how it impacted them and reading others’ stories to deepen their understanding.

One of Parker’s favorite activities is the “empathy share,” which she believes fosters essential social-emotional skills. “Students reflect on moments of unkindness, leave their stories for others to read, and then choose another story to see how someone else felt. It’s about building empathy through shared experiences,” she explained. “We want students to understand the power of their actions and words, and how they can impact others.”

Throughout Kindness Week, the foundation will distribute “CHOOSE KINDNESS” bracelets and “I AM RESILIENT” stickers to students. Parker noted that these reminders align with the organization’s goal to spread kindness beyond school walls, encouraging students to consider how small acts of compassion can create a ripple effect throughout the community.

In addition to in-classroom kindness activities, teachers are encouraged to integrate themes from Sam’s life, including community support and perseverance. “We share Sam’s story, promoting his values of kindness, compassion, and perseverance,” Parker said. “Through our innovative programs, we’re making a tangible difference in the lives of countless young people. We’re equipping them with the skills to overcome adversity, pursue their passions, and lead fulfilling lives.”

Parker emphasized the foundation’s collaboration with the Park City School District, which has helped integrate Live Like Sam’s kindness initiatives into existing programs like the “We All Belong” campaign, aimed at fostering inclusivity and mutual respect.

Each year, Live Like Sam Week grows in reach and impact through its Kindness curriculum and partnership with the schools. As Parker shared, “This all roots from Sam’s legacy of kindness, positivity, and resilience. We’re excited to see how these activities will continue to inspire empathy and compassion among Park City’s youth, making kindness a lasting part of our community’s future.”