Phoenix businessman and sports executive Jerry Colangelo announced as the recipient of the Alfredo J. Molina Community Lifeline Award.

Dear Friends, Patrons and Colleagues;

It is my distinct honor to announce the 2012 recipient of the Alfredo J. Molina Community Lifeline Award, Mr. Jerry Colangelo. The award which bears my name will be presented to Mr. Colangelo at Teen Lifeline’s Connections of Hope ‘An Evening to Celebrate Arizona’s Youth” event to support Teen Lifeline for empowering teens and saving lives on October 6, 2012 at the beautiful Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. This award is presented annually to an individual that has made extraordinary contributions to the service of others in their lifetime. I could not think of a more deserving recipient than Jerry!

While Jerry Colangelo’s track record will endure in sports history and business, Jerry is also recognized as one of the most generous and effective humanitarians in the U.S. He supports and helps raise millions of dollars each year for causes benefiting children, women, the infirmed and the disadvantaged. He is chairman and past chairman of more than a dozen national and regional councils and foundations concerning education, leadership, youth development, arts and culture, athletics and commerce.

Jerry understands the importance that sports play in the psychological well-being of youth and has been instrumental in his efforts to bring sports to the youth of Arizona as well as other parts of the country. Research has shown that sports contribute to the psychological well-being of youths by reducing anxiety and depression and enhancing self-esteem. Sports help kids think critically and solve problems, build self-discipline, trust, respect for others, leadership and coping skills.

“What I’ve learned in my lifetime is that we have a responsibility, we are going to be held accountable that day of judgment regarding how we conducted our lives, how we handled the resources that we have been given and it truly is all relative, I believe in that. So, in my lifetime I have kind of phrased it this way; I have been given a platform, I’ll be held accountable for how I handle that platform and all the resources that I’ve been given and there is great joy in giving and helping people.” – Jerry Colangelo, MentorKids

About Teen Lifeline

Teen Lifeline, is an independent Phoenix based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, confidential and life saving crisis service for teens across Arizona. Teen Lifeline strives to impact the devastating problem in teen suicide and empower youth to make healthy decisions. This is done through its peer-to-peer statewide hotline, it's Life Skills Training for its teen volunteers, as well as other community-based suicide prevention and teen outreach programming. For the past 26 years, Teen Lifeline continues to be a life saving resource for Arizona’s youth.

Suicide Stats

In 2009, 125 youth (age 10-24) died by suicide in Arizona. According to the American Association of Suicidology, there are 200 attempts for every completion; yielding more than 25,000 suicide attempts.

• Arizona has the 8th highest suicide rate for adolescents.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for adolescents in Arizona.
• Arizona’s teens reported the highest levels of feeling sad or hopeless compared to all other states.
• Nationally, over 4,500 youth will die by suicide. That is an average of 1 life lost every 2 hours by suicide.

Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people.

The thought of suicide does not discriminate based on social standing, gender, or ethnic background. Just think what the world would look like today if Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, or Steve Jobs would have committed teen suicide. Every teen is a jewel and we must do our part to provide those in need with the help necessary to remove the thought of suicide and allow them to become brilliant.

Teen Lifeline has provided peer-based counseling that not only helps teens considering suicide but also empowers those specially trained peer counselors themselves. More than 125,000 calls have been made to the hotline, with more than 1,200 peer counselors taking those calls under the supervision of Master’s-level mental health clinicians. I am proud to share that my son Austin participated in Teen Lifeline’s fourteen week Life Skills Training and was one of the many special life saving teen volunteer counselors.

“Nobody can better understand what a teen is going through than another teen and that simple concept is what makes Teen Lifeline work” – Michelle Moorhead, Executive Director

I invite you to join me on October 6th at Teen Lifeline’s Connections of Hope “An Evening to Celebrate Arizona’s Youth” to honor Jerry Colangelo for his efforts which positively impact our youth, and to support Teen Lifeline for empowering teens and saving lives.

Respectfully yours,

Alfredo J. Molina
Chairman