National QB Club, Teen Lifeline, GCSGC Partner During Teen Suicide Prevention Month
The National Quarterback Club (NQBC) announced today the renewal of partnership between NQBC, Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) and Teen Lifeline, the nonprofit Arizona-based suicide prevention hotline.
With grant funding support from NQBC, the three-way collaboration has produced a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) featuring select Arizona high school football players. The PSAs are designed to provide messages of hope to troubled teens and reduce the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide among teens in Arizona.
“Arizona high school students continue to be separated from their primary social groups as a result of school districts beginning the fall semester online and delaying normal on-campus school activities. During these challenging times, the PSA messages will place the Teen Lifeline mission on the forefront and remind teens in crisis that they are not alone,” said Don Kile, president of NQBC. “The PSAs will be channeled through athlete social media accounts and other various outlets throughout September.”
September is Teen Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The collaborative PSA social media campaign to support the mission of Teen Lifeline utilizes 12 Arizona high school football players from eight Valley high schools to share the peer-to-peer message that ‘there is help and there is hope.’ Teen Lifeline contact information is present on the back of more than 213,000 student IDs at 135 high schools across the state.
“We are pleased to partner with NQBC and GCSGC because we know that the PSA campaign brings awareness to students who are struggling. There are resources and people out there who can help,” said Michelle Moorhead, executive director of Teen Lifeline. “With the support of these outstanding student athletes, we are confident that our message of hope will gain traction and momentum.”
“The National Quarterback Club is pleased to support a highly effective, grassroots program that activates high school football by sharing a message of hope and encouragement in Arizona,” said Kile. “Because of the delays in back-to-school activities, this message of hope to teens in crisis is more relevant today than ever. We are proud to partner with both GCSGC and Teen Lifeline in celebration of the organization’s 33-year commitment to saving young lives.”
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, don’t give up. There is help and there is hope. Call or text (602) 248-8336 or visit teenlifeline.org.
About Teen Lifeline
Teen Lifeline is a Phoenix-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, confidential and crucial crisis intervention service for teens throughout Arizona. Teen Lifeline strives to impact the devastating problem of teen suicide and empower youths to make healthy decisions through its peer-to-peer crisis hotline and text messaging service, Life Skills Development Training for teen volunteers, and Community Education, Prevention and Postvention services.
Established in 1986, Teen Lifeline is accredited through the American Association of Suicidology. Trained, volunteer peer counselors between the ages of 15-19 answered more than 25,600 calls and 2,400 text messages from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily in 2019.
For more information, visit TeenLifeline.org. For help, call or text Teen Lifeline at (602) 248- TEEN (8336) or (800) 248-TEEN.
About Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club
The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is the steward of the Ed Doherty Award and is the most meaningful advocate of high school football in the State of Arizona. The mission of the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is to represent Arizona amateur athletics by bringing national attention to the extraordinary qualities of our young people and serve in the pursuit of athletic achievement, academic advancement and greater social affinity.
About the Ed Doherty Award
The Ed Doherty Award has been the State of Arizona’s highest individual high school football honor and is awarded annually to the state’s most outstanding high school football player by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club. The Ed Doherty Award recognizes the player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The winner of the award epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. In addition to on-field performance, the Ed Doherty Award recognizes the well-rounded accomplishments of community involvement, school pride, and academics. The Ed Doherty Award Luncheon will will take place on January 9, 2021. For information contact info@gcsgridiron.com or visit www.gcsgridiron.com.
About the National Quarterback Club
The National Quarterback Club is guided by a comprehensive mission, a clear vision, and consistent values. Through its various award programs, the club recognizes outstanding athletes for their qualities and achievements on and off the playing field, and serve as a model for comprehensive excellence in athletic achievement, academic success, and greater social affinity. In 1985, the National Quarterback Club began a tradition of hosting annual fundraising events to honor the National Quarterback of the Year in professional, collegiate and high school ranks. Annual awards dinners have been hosted in great sports cities such as Washington D.C., Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Green Bay, Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Houston and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The 2020 National Quarterback Club Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 27, 2021. For information contact info@nationalqbclub.com or visit www.nationalqbclub.com