Newly chartered Rotary Club of Queen Creek teams up with renowned youth advocate, Katey McPherson and Bark for Schools for an exclusive screening of the film, “My Ascension.”
Queen Creek, Arizona, August 15, 2023— Furthering the club’s mission of bringing awareness to the many issues affecting teen mental health, the Rotary Club of Queen Creek along with Katey McPherson are hosting nationally known suicide prevention speaker, Emma Benoit as she shares her story of recovery after attempting suicide.
My Ascension is a feature length documentary that chronicle’s Emma’s inspiring journey and quest to walk again and also highlights the stories of two remarkable young people who tragically did not survive their first attempts.
The free event will be held at the Queen Creek Community Chambers at 20727 E Civic Parkway, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 on Wednesday, August 30th. Doors open at 5:30pm with the screening of the film starting at 6:00pm and a Q&A session with Emma Benoit following the film at 7:30pm.
The film will showcase stories and information from families, friends, school officials and suicide prevention experts about the devastating effects of suicide and what can be done to prevent it. They will also have an opportunity to meet in-person with several mental health professionals on-site to learn about the many mental health resources available to parents and teens alike.
Bark for Schools and Bark for Families, is an artificial intelligence app that protects over 5 million children nationwide. Bark alerts parents and schools to signs of violence, distress, cyberbullying, predation, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and 10 other categories.
Sheila Hedstrom-Pelger also generously donated to the event after losing her talented son Ty to a suicide completion. Ty was a brilliant J.O. Combs student and a drummer in the band, Anarbor, that traveled nationally. Sheila dedicates much of her time to raising awareness around youth suicide. “With suicide as a leading cause of death among 15-24 year-olds nationally, I am so grateful to Emma and her family for producing this film, and for spending time in our community. It is crucial that we take notice of the prevalence of anxiety and depression, and know what to do when the signs emerge. Attending this event is a step in the direction of understanding suicidal ideation, and mitigating it,” explained Rotary board member, Brenda Brandhorst.
Katey McPherson commented, “Emma Benoit is a true champion for kids and teenagers. As a lived survivor she is able to shed light on what someone in distress might be going through and how her daily
practice of gratitude has helped her cope with all that life throws at her. Every tween and teen needs to
see this film and if able, to meet Emma. She is the true meaning of what it means to be human.”
Those who wish to participate are encouraged to visit www.rotaryclubqc.com/events to register. The club is also actively seeking sponsorship partners who can be featured on social media posts, e-blasts, print advertising, the official race shirt and have a vendor booth at the event. For more information on sponsoring, please email info@rotaryclubqc.com
About Rotary: Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the
world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members in over 200
countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels,
from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more
information, visit https://rotaryclubqc.com
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Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
info@rotaryclubqc.com
