About The Jason Foundation
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) was founded in 1997 after the tragic suicide of our President/CEO’s youngest son Jason. JFI has now become nationally recognized as a leader in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs. With offices throughout the country, JFI is one of the nation’s leading clinically-based non-profit organizations for the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. JFI programs are now in use in every state and several foreign countries. JFI uses education as a tool to create awareness and to provide the information and resources for identification and support of at-risk youth.
Our Mission
The Jason Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs to equip young people, educators, youth workers, and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth.
Jason’s Story
Jason, the younger brother of John Flatt and son of Clark and Connie Flatt, was an average 16-year-old student. He loved sports and played football for his high school. He was active in his church youth group and had a lot of friends. From all appearances, he loved life.
On July 16th, 1997, everything changed. Jason became a statistic of the silent epidemic of youth suicide. The Jason Foundation was founded to address this national health problem.
Our Partnership
In December 2010, Major General Max Haston and Clark Flatt met to discuss the problem of suicide in the Tennessee National Guard family. After hearing the staggering statistics from General Haston, Clark agreed to devote JFI resources to address this problem. A dynamic team consisting of a diverse group of professionals came together, and the idea of the Guard Your Buddy project was born. The Jason Foundation is honored to be a part of this project with the combined mission of preventing suicide and helping in the day-to-day struggles that are specific to guardsmen and their families.