Live Like Sam gala celebrates a life well lived while lifting local kids

The Live Like Sam gala will feature live music, a three-course dinner, auctions and dancing while supporting programs that promote youth mental and emotional well-being

PARK CITY, Utah — Live Like Sam will host its annual gala Saturday, Oct. 10, at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, bringing together members of the community to celebrate youth well-being and raise funds for youth programming in Summit and Wasatch counties.

The evening will honor the life and legacy of Sam Jackenthal, whose love of life and kindness inspired the creation of the Live Like Sam Foundation.

Co-founder and Sam’s father, Ron Jackenthal, began the foundation in 2019. 

“The foundation was started to honor the extraordinary life that Sam lived, and Sam was this incredibly kind, positive, energetic human that impacted everybody he came in contact with in a really positive way,” Jackenthal said. “We wanted to do something to keep Sam’s legacy going and help youth in our community.”

At the center of Live Like Sam’s work is a commitment to helping young people build the tools they need to navigate life with a strong sense of self, identity, purpose and community. Through youth programming, education and scholarships, the organization works to empower young people to recognize their potential and find the support they need to succeed.

“I think what we’re seeing is the community is really embracing our foundation and recognizing that we have a lot of work to do, but we also want to celebrate Sam’s extraordinary life. So for us, we have essentially created the party of the year.”

Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the first portion of the evening will feature passed appetizers, an open bar, craft cocktails, local brews and wine, along with live music, a photo booth, silent auction and opportunity drawing. 

Dinner will follow with a gourmet three-course meal preceding the evening’s presentation and live auction.

Comedian and actor Pete Giovine will serve as the evening’s host. With two decades of experience in live-event hosting, Giovine has hosted venues and events across the country, including the Super Bowl and major corporate events. 

To cap off the night, the 10-piece dance band, Dance Doctors, will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.. 

Guests are encouraged to embrace the evening’s “Mountain Chic” dress code, described as cocktail attire with a modern mountain flair.

Tickets can be purchased online at livelikesam.org/gala/. 

“It’s events like this that are critical for us to raise funds to put into programming,” Jackenthal said. The foundation is entering its seventh year and is 100 percent self-funded. 

78 percent of the funds raised go directly toward providing eight free programs to more than 6,000 youth from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Jackenthal said the foundation’s work grew out of a desire to better understand youth mental health in Utah and the resources available to young people locally.

“My daughter and I very quickly found out that this was an area where there was very limited resources in the community, and so we decided to create the Live Like Sam Foundation. We just wanted to help kids love life. This is a night of inspiration, of community, and of hope, and it’s an opportunity for attendees to also understand the youth mental health crisis and the need for resources.” 

Tickets for the gala are available here!