Teen Line Honors Founder

Los Angeles – (April 25, 2016) TEEN LINE, the ground-breaking teen-to-teen support hotline, honored founder Elaine Leader, PhD, with the Above and Beyond Award at the 35th Anniversary Annual Food for Thought Luncheon, April 14, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. Award-winning actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph hosted.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Elaine Leader has dedicated her life to helping vulnerable young people, founding the teen-to-teen hotline in 1980, and serving as Executive Director until May 2015.

“Through Dr. Leader’s vision, generosity and devotion, our teens are given hope and reassurance to deal with the pressures of adolescence,” said Michelle Carlson, TEEN LINE Executive Director.

TEEN LINE receives more than 15,000 calls, texts and emails each year, providing a safety net for teenagers dealing with troubled relationships; verbal, emotional or physical abuse; substance abuse; suicide; peer pressure; cyber bullying and other challenges. In addition, more than 25,000 participants annually attend TEEN LINE events at schools and community forums.

Dr. Leader has also been a past recipient of the 2000 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Award, the 2003 KIDS TALK Foundation Humanitarian Award and the 2009 Crisis Centers Excellence Award from the American Association of Suicidology, on behalf of TEEN LINE.

Also honored at the luncheon: The Hekmat Family received the Distinguished Family Service Award; the Hekmat triplets – Ariela, Chloe and Justin volunteer as TEEN LINE Listeners. The Henson and Otis Family were honored with the Humanitarian Award for their generous support; Ginger Otis and her brother volunteer as TEEN LINE listeners and their parents Lisa Henson, James Otis and Dave Pressler have been advocates of TEEN LINE since 2012.

In addition, 11 of TEEN LINE’s 120 teen volunteers were recognized: Sabrina Bell and Sarah Cohen received the Teen Hero Award; Henry Muhlheim and Sarah Wagner received the Outstanding Listener Award; Gabe Wieder received the Teen Advocacy Award; Alexandra Strong and Isabella York received the Teen VOICE Award; and Laetitia Coustar, Shadi Keyvani, Baxter King-Epping and Sara Nasr received the Distinguished Service Award.

Prior to the luncheon, a boutique showcased fashionable items for purchase, with a portion of proceeds benefitting TEEN LINE.

For more information, please visit www.teenlineonline.org.

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Pam Giangregorio

Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations

310-479-2333 / pam@katysweetpr.com