NQBC Fosters Arizona Partnership Between Teen Lifeline and GCSGC During Suicide Prevention Month
The National Quarterback Club (NQBC) announced today the partnership between NQBC, Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) and Arizona-based suicide prevention hotline operators Teen Lifeline. With grant funding support from NQBC, the three-way collaboration will produce a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) designed to reduce the incidents of suicide and suicide attempts among teens in Arizona.
“The PSA messages will be a call to action to contact Teen Lifeline and generate familiarity with Teen Lifeline as an immediate resource available to teens in crisis attempting to navigate tough times,” said Don Kile, president of NQBC. “It is a pleasure to support Michelle Moorhead and the entire Teen Lifeline family as they celebrate 34 years of fostering supportive communities and enhancing resiliency and hope for teens in crisis.”
September is Teen Suicide Prevention Month and Teen Lifeline has scheduled 32 campus visits to Arizona high schools in 30 days to share the message that ‘there is help and there is hope’. The Teen Lifeline contact information is present on the backside of over 200 high school student ID across the state.
“To support Teen Lifeline’s mission, nine of the 2018 Ed Doherty Award Medallion Nominees from four Valley high schools have begun filming the PSAs advocating the organization’s hotline and website,” said Ward Hickey, president of GCSGC. “The PSAs will seek to convey a peer-topeer message that teens in crisis are not alone in their emotional struggles.”
“We hope the PSA campaign brings awareness to students who are struggling, and to the friends, parents, teachers and coaches who support them. 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 will gain traction and momentum. We cannot thank the National Quarterback Club enough for their generous support and leadership on this important issue.”
The PSAs will be aired and channeled through various social media outlets and repeated during the morning announcements at many high schools statewide. The campaign will last the entire month of September bringing additional attention to Suicide Prevention Month.
“The National Quarterback Club is pleased to support a highly effective, grassroots program that activates the sport we know and love by sharing a message of hope and encouragement in Arizona,” Kile said. “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 the effort of saving 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 www.teenlifeline.org.
About Teen Lifeline
Teen Lifeline is an Arizona-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to prevent teen suicide by enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities. We envision a world where youth possesses a sense of connectedness and hope for their future. 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. Between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily, trained, volunteer peer counselors between the ages of 15-19 answered more than 23,000 calls and 1,400 text messages in 2018.
For more information, visit TeenLifeline.org. For help, call or text Teen Lifeline at (602) 248TEEN (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 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 be held in will take place on December 14, 2019. For information contact info@gcsgridiron.com or www.gcsgridiron.com.