Wrestling fans and the general public are invited to attend a special activity, "A Promise for Tomorrow," on Friday, March 19  at 4:00 p.m., prior to the semifinals of the 2004 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo.    USA Wrestling will celebrate a new affiliation with the Jason Foundation, Inc., to work together to prevent youth suicide.    The function will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe Tent outside the Saavis Center in St. Louis, Mo., site of the NCAA Championships. The 4:00 p.m. start time will allow fans to enjoy the formal program, and have plenty of time to make the semifinals, which begin at 6:00 p.m. Hard Rock Cafe menu items will be available.    USA Wrestling has joined the Jason Foundation as an affiliate, and has formed a committee of leaders to oversee USA Wrestling's commitment to working on this important issue. Heading the USA Wrestling committee will be 1992 Olympic head coach Bobby Douglas of Ames, Iowa, a two-time Olympic athlete who currently works as the wrestling coach at Iowa State Univ.    "Most of us are in the sport to help kids," said Douglas. "I can't think of a better way to help address one of the major challenges facing youth today. It is a perfect match with USA Wrestling. We reach numerous at-risk kids through sports. If we only save one life, the efforts are worth it. The wrestling community can have an impact on a major problem. Many people don't understand that this is an epidemic."    A prominent nationally recognized speaker, NASA astronaut Ed Lu,  will be included in the program at the event. Lu was a college wrestler at Cornell Univ., and has flown on three space missions, including a six-month tour of duty about the International Space Station.    Attending will also be Jason Foundation President and CEO Clark Flatt, USA Wrestling President Stan Dziedzic and USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.    "We are excited about working with USA Wrestling," said Clark Flatt. "Initially, I didn't know much about the USA Wrestling program. Once we saw how involved the membership is, we got excited. They are passionate about their sport and about being involved in their community. Being able to work through the USA Wrestling network is exciting. But, it is the passion that has impressed me the most."    "USA Wrestling is excited to affiliate with the nationally-respected Jason Foundation to prevent youth suicide," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "Our organization has a tremendous number of young people all across the nation. We will put the skill and commitment of our volunteers and staff behind this important and worthy cause. We are also pleased that NASA astronaut Ed Lu, a great friend to wrestling, has agreed to speak at our function."    USA Wrestling is the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the international wrestling federation FILA. It conducts programs and events for wrestlers from youth through the Olympic level and works to promote the sport in our nation.    Founded in October of 1997, the Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) has become a leader in a national effort to address the "Silent Epidemic" of youth suicide through awareness and prevention strategies. The Jason Foundation, Inc. represents the efforts of staff and volunteers to reduce the number of youth suicides and suicide attempts. This is done by presenting educational seminars and resource programs to young people, parents, teachers and other youth workers.    The Jason Foundation's beginning stems from the life of Jason C. Flatt. Jason was a lively, athletic, and bright sixteen-year-old who was very excited about recently receiving his driver's licence. He was doing well in school and was looking forward to the upcoming football season in the fall. However, all of this excitement and anticipation ended on July 16. 1997, the day Jason took his own life. One moment of a brash, irrational decision took a son, a brother and a friend from those who loved him. The lives of Jason's family would never be the same again.    The "A Promise for Tomorrow" educational program not only teaches the facts about youth suicide, but it also strives to create a peer support group through the "Promise Cards" friends will sign and keep with them. It is a broad-based and flexible program which the Jason Foundation feels serves as a key step in the fight against youth suicide.