Speakers Friday, August 11, 2023
Dear Friend,
Jason was my youngest son. He was an average 16-year old. He got mostly B’s on his report card, and he loved sports. Especially football. He was active in his youth group and he had a lot of friends. Jason was the one who was always up for going places and trying new things. From all appearances…my son loved life.
But on July 16th in 1997, everything changed. My son, Jason became a statistic of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide. In trying to come to terms with what happened, I began researching youth suicide. The statistics are very alarming. Did you know that on average, over 100 young people this week will become victims of youth suicide?
Youth suicide can be prevented, and that is what The Jason Foundation is all about. I urge you to get involved. Together we can help stop this epidemic. Ask for our material. Read it. Then share it with your friends, family and others. Please help us reach out to hurting teens with another choice. I will never hug my son again. But I can and will work alongside you…perhaps to save your friend, your neighbor’s child, a relative or even your own son or daughter.
Thank you for your support of any kind,
Our speaker this week will be Morgan Marks, the Chief Development Officer/National Director of Divisions and Outreach/Manager of Operations for The Jason Foundation.
The Mission of Statement of The Jason Foundation is that [it] is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth.
JFI believes that awareness and education are the first steps to prevention. We want to establish a Triangle of Prevention by providing students, parents and teachers the tools and resources to help identify and help at-risk youth. This is accomplished through a curriculum unit for students and informational seminars for teachers and parents. The programs provide resources to accomplish this goal. The materials are easy to use and are intended to provide educational information. There is no intent to diagnose or treat suicidal ideation. JFI’s intention is to empower youth, educators and parents to help recognize when young people are in pain and know to get professional help involved as soon as possible. The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3.
Our Current Speaker Schedule
| 7/28/23 | Juliana Ericson — “The Joyful Life and Strange Impact of Art”, | |
| 8/4/23 | LaTanya Channel, Metro Dir Econ Growth and Small Bus Dev | |
| 8/11/23 | Morgan Marks, Chief Development Officer — “Teenage Suicide and The Jason Foundation” | |
| 8/18/23 | Jon Roebuck, PhD, VP Belmont College — “Safe Spaces, Spirituality and Quality of Life” | |
| 8/25/23 | Jack Potter, AIA, CSI, Architect — “Sustainability In The Environment and What Does It Mean to Us” | |
| 9/1/23 | No meeting. Enjoy Labor Day | |
| 9/8/23 | Dr. Paul Stumb, President Cumberland — “Nuclear Subs and World Peace” |