Celebration of life planned for Boys and Girls Clubs

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska are recognizing the international Yellow Ribbon Suicide Awareness program with open houses to celebrate life.

The open houses are aimed at educating kids, parents and health care providers about suicide prevention and positive life skills.

The yellow ribbon program was founded in 1994 by the parents of Mike Emme, a teen-ager who took his life when he did not know how to let someone know he needed help.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska feel it is extremely important to reach out and support kids in need, officials said.

Suicide is a big issue facing all teens today, and the Valley is certainly no exception.

At the Mat-Su Valley Boys and Girls Club, there will be an open house on Sept. 18 from during the afternoon hours.

There will be cookies and punch provided by the local clubhouses participating in the program.

Rural clubhouses from around the state are hosting similar open houses on Sept. 18.

Suicide prevention coordinators, school counselors and health clinicians are all invited to attend the open houses.

The Boys and Girls Clubs located in Anchorage held similar open houses yesterday, organizers said.