An Evening to Celebrate Arizona’s Youth
Connections of Hope is the largest fundraiser supporting Teen Lifeline each year, supporting the “connections of hope” found daily by troubled teens on our peer-to-peer hotline. At $300 per ticket, you’ll enjoy a delectable dinner, exceptional youth entertainment, live and silent auctions, and an opportunity to support our life-saving work.
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Become a Sponsor Becoming a sponsor has benefits for both you and the youth Teen Lifeline serves. Sponsorships range from $3,500 to $100,000, with increasing levels of recognition and backing crucial youth programs. Sponsorship opportunities
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Donate Items for Auction The gala’s auctions are an important source of our funds, only possible through supporters’ generosity. Items include getaways, home services, and unique pieces. All proceeds go towards preventing teen suicide.
Our 2022 Honoree
Mandy Purcell
Local Business Woman & Philanthropist
What words come to mind when thinking of Mandy Purcell? Personable, Intelligent, Creative, Honest, Generous, Kind-Hearted, Strategist, Philanthropist, and Friend.
Those attributes have made Mandy an inspiration at all levels of society. Considering Mandy started as a 7-year-old child from South Korea who did not speak the language and had no formal schooling at the time she was adopted, she has proven to be driven, dedicated, and focused on everything she tackles. Now, she has an impressive history in sales, marketing, and investigative journalism, supported by a degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at ASU. As a thriving businessperson within the Phoenix business community for over 15 years, Mandy is well-known as the founder of MP Media LLC and the Executive Publisher of Commercial Executive Magazine.
Mandy is a leader—a great leader. She has a flair for fashion and golf, and her talent for connecting professional and personal relationships with her passions has made her a champion of local non-profits. Teen Lifeline has been blessed to have Mandy in our family for nearly ten years. Her passion for Teen Lifeline enabled her to succeed on our behalf as Chair and Co-Chair of several past Connections of Hope Galas, raising over $1 million for us since 2013.
In this past decade together, Mandy has also raised her son Thomas (age 17) and daughter Julia (16), built a successful business career, and created an enormous network of people who will go out of their way to support her and whatever cause she backs. Her example of hard work, generosity, and compassion are a beacon to her children and all who know her.
Teen Lifeline is thrilled beyond words to honor Mandy Purcell with the 2022 Alfredo J. Molina Lifetime Achievement Award. Mandy is one of our community’s greatest Angels.
Alfredo J. Molina Community Lifeline Award
At Connections of Hope, we honor a local philanthropist with the Alfredo J. Molina Community Lifeline Award for their extraordinary contributions to the service of others, particularly to youth. The recipient serves as a community role model, inspiring others with their personal and professional integrity, leadership, and compassion.
Previous award recipients include Alfredo J. Molina (2004), Peter Thomas (2005), Carole and Bob Machiz (2006), Derrick Hall (2007), Linda and Bill Pope (2008), John R. Norton III (2009), Bridget Pettis (2011), Jerry Colangelo (2012), Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (2013), Jordin Sparks (2014), Donald Tapia (2015), Tom Hatten (2016), Erik Olsson (2017), David Alexander (2018), Sissie Roberts Shank (2019), Lorry Bottrill (2021), and Mandy Purcell (2022).
Highlights from 2022’s Event
On the evening of Friday, October 7, 2022, Arizona’s philanthropic community came together to support teen suicide prevention and celebrate the charitable work of Mandy Purcell, beloved businesswoman and a decade-long supporter of Teen Lifeline. Read about the event on LinkedIn.
The event was led by a team of all-stars: Event Chair Lana Breen, Honoree Mandy Purcell, Mistress of Ceremonies Carey Peña, and our advisors Alfredo J. Molina, Barbara & Hugh Lytle, Britt Sanchez, Danielle & Jeff Fields, David Allred, Irene Clary, Mike Olsen, Sherri Mason Clark, and Scott Knauer.
Entertainment included teen performers Japhar Pullen and Eleeza, live & silent auctions run by auctioneer Letitia Frye, awarding Peer of the Year to Ria, stories from peer counselors Spencer & Dani, and an after-party with DJ Hartbreaks.
This event has both live and silent auctions, with proceeds supporting Teen Lifeline and our life-saving work in teen suicide prevention. The items in our auctions often include one-of-a-kind experiences (such as with sports teams like the Phoenix Suns or the Diamondbacks) and luxury items with high-tier donors such as Black Starr & Frost.
If you would like to donate an auction item, click here for more information.
