An Invitation to Join the Jordan Porco Foundation and ‘The Warrior Movement’
In the game of life, we’re all on the same team
Arlee Warriors Basketball Team
By Rachel Papke
In February 2018, one of the Arlee Warriors Basketball team’s opponents from another team on Montana’s Flathead Reservation died by suicide. The team and Coach Zanen Pitts requested that community member and videographer, Jordan Lefler, help them produce videos dedicating their divisional and state tournaments to families and communities affected by suicide. Having worked closely with the youth in Arlee producing inspirational highlight videos since 2010, Lefler went to work.
They created this video that went viral, reaching 15,000 views, resulting in a phenomenon that created what is now called The Warrior Movement. The videos are a heartfelt plea for youth and all people to come together to fight for life. The Arlee Warriors have reached, and continue to reach, people across the country with their vital message of hope. Their call to action is to join them: jointhewarriormovement.com.
The Jordan Porco Foundation (JPF) joins them. JPF’s mission to promote mental health, prevent suicide, and create a message of hope for young adults aligns with the vital messaging of The Warrior Movement; they are allies – teammates – in the movement to raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide.
JPF will honor the Arlee Warriors with their Community Mental Health Advocate of the Year Award, at their 8th annual Jordan’s Journey Gala, on Saturday March 23, 2019, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. Lefler will accept the award on the team’s behalf, traveling all the way from Missoula, MT to Hartford, CT – a testament to the fact that in the game of life, we’re all on the same team. There is no distance that separates the team effort required in rising together to prevent suicide.
JPF invites you to join their team. This is your invitation and opportunity to join the Jordan Porco Foundation and The Warrior Movement. Your support of JPF’s gala will help save lives across the country. JPF has reached over 75,000 students across the country. Despite this success, many more young adults need their programs. A recent program participant told the Jordan Porco Foundation,
“As a mentally ill student who has been suicidal, Fresh Check Day let me know that there are people who will help me and not judge me, and that made me feel safe.”
Too many young people continue to struggle with mental health issues and tragically die by suicide. Teammates understand how crucial teamwork is, in helping bring more lifesaving programs to schools and communities across the country. Visit jordanporcofoundation.org/gala to learn how you can join the movement to save lives.
About the Jordan Porco Foundation
The Jordan Porco Foundation’s mission is to prevent suicide, promote mental health, and create a message of hope for young adults. They accomplish this by providing engaging and uplifting peer-run programs. Their programs strive to start a conversation about mental health that reduces stigma while encouraging help-seeking and supportive behaviors. The Jordan Porco Foundation is named in memory of the co-founder’s son, Jordan. Jordan died by suicide in 2011 as a college freshman. What started as two grieving parents’ vision, has grown into a nationally respected Foundation that helps tens of thousands of young adults across the country. Learn more at jordanporcofoundation.org.
Contacts
Marisa Giarnella-Porco, Co-Founder & CEO, mgiarnella-porco@jordanporcofoundation.org
Rachel Papke, Communications Manager, rpapke@jordanporcofoundation.org
