‘Connections of Hope’ to Honor Tom Hatten
Teen Lifeline will honor Mountainside Fitness CEO and founder Tom Hatten at its 13th Annual Connections of Hope gala Oct. 14 at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. The evening raises funds for the “connections of hope” found daily by at-risk youth who call or text Teen Lifeline’s peer-to-peer hotline and are reached by its statewide suicide awareness and prevention outreach.
Having founded the largest locally owned health-club chain in Arizona, Hatten has been featured in such publications as Entrepreneur, US News & World Report and Forbes, and was named Business Journal/USA Today’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996.
With only $2,000 and an idea, Hatten opened the first Mountainside Fitness in 1991 at age 22. Since then, he has turned Mountainside Fitness into an Arizona staple with 15 locations and an ever-expanding clientele. He also serves as a motivational speaker to students at Arizona’s public universities, teaching them about entrepreneurship, economics and community involvement in business.
With his success, he gives back to the community by supporting a variety of local causes and charities. Currently, he is on the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Executive Council and the board of directors of Make-A-Wish Arizona.
“When you think about what this award stands for – being a community role model, an aspiring leader and giving back in the service of others – Tom stands out as someone worthy of the honor,” says Michelle Moorhead, executive director of Teen Lifeline. “From promoting general health and wellness through Mountainside Fitness, to speaking to and motivating students about the importance of being earnest, to serving on nonprofit boards, Tom is a true role model who inspires others to reach for their dreams, not give up and work hard to make our community stronger.”
Last year, Connections of Hope raised more than $500,000 to help continue to fund the peer-to-peer hotline, and Teen Lifeline hopes to exceed that at the 2016 event. All funds help Teen Lifeline empower youth and save lives through the hotline 602-248-8336 (TEEN), and through community outreach presentations.
For more information about Connections of Hope, click here.
