Sam Jackenthal. Photo: by Live Like Sam Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — Live Like Sam will hold its largest fundraiser to date on Sept. 27 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, hoping to collect more than $500,000 for free youth well‑being and suicide‑prevention programs. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a three‑course dinner, live and silent auctions and dancing to the 10‑piece High Society Party Band.

Gala Tickets

The gala comes almost 10 years after 16‑year‑old Park City freeskier Sam Jackenthal died from training injuries, a loss that galvanized the community and sparked the creation of the Live Like Sam Foundation. “Losing a child is unthinkable, yet Sam lived more in his 16 short years than most people will live in their lifetime,” said his father, Ron Jackenthal, who co‑founded the Live Like Sam Foundation five years ago. “Whenever I’m in doubt, I just ask myself what Sam would want, and I choose to ‘Jackenthal it’—to live each day to the fullest and help other kids do the same.”

The Foundation has also launched a campaign focused on youth resilience. Jackenthal says, “Resilience is a critical life-skill for getting through life’s inevitable tough moments and one that can be taught.”

A Community in need

Although Sam Jackenthal’s life ended in a training accident, the foundation that bears his name has learned that actual wellness starts between the ears: mental health is the linchpin for every other measure of youth well-being. Suicide is the second‑leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10‑17, state health data show. Local numbers echo the trend: the 2023 SHARP study found 72 percent of Summit County students reporting moderate or high depressive symptoms and 46 percent with moderate or high mental‑health treatment needs.

“Our youth are facing a full‑blown mental‑health epidemic,” Ron Jackenthal said. “Therapists are scarce and costly. We’re the only full‑time nonprofit exclusively providing year‑round well‑being and prevention programming for local youth.”

How the funds are used

Money raised at the gala will “partially fund all five programs,” covering staff, curricula, technology and independent evaluation, he said. Highlights include:

Thrive and Thrive 2.0 — six‑week virtual courses for grades 6–12 that the foundation says cut anxiety by 25 percent and depression by 21 percent in pre‑ and post‑surveys reviewed by an institutional review board.
Digital Wellness — lessons on screen time, body image and cyberbullying for grades 3–12.
Life Skills K‑12 — in‑school workshops on self‑awareness, courage, empathy, resilience and kindness.
Community voice platforms — KPCW’s monthly “Resilient Youth Radio” and Good Grief, a podcast hosted by Jackenthal’s daughter, Skylar.

In 2024 the foundation served more than 4,000 students in Summit and Wasatch counties and provided over $500,000 of free mental-health programming; more than one‑third were youth of color, and many programs are offered in Spanish.

Auction and debut book

Organizers expect more than $300,000 in auction items, ranging from adventure travel to private dining experiences. The evening will also introduce Fly Sam Fly, a children’s book inspired by Jackenthal’s life.