Unique opportunity for students to volunteer with the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundations Y Campaign - a statewide initiative aimed at preventing tobacco use among Virginias youth

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 76

December 3, 2002

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:

Principals

FROM:

Patricia I. Wright

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

SUBJECT:

Unique opportunity for students to volunteer with the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundations Y Campaign - a statewide initiative aimed at preventing tobacco use among Virginias youth

The Y Campaign is the largest statewide tobacco-use prevention effort ever directed at Virginias youth ages 10-17. As part of the Y Campaign, students can join an adult-supervised Youth Street Team. Youth Street Team members attend events and activities in their community for the purpose of distributing youth tobacco-use prevention materials and speaking to their peers about tobacco use. Participation allows students to serve as mentors and role models for the youth they interact with at events. This opportunity also allows students to obtain community service hours in school divisions where this is a prerequisite to graduation.

The Y Campaign is a great opportunity for energetic and motivated high school students to interact with the public and attend exciting events while sending a positive message to discourage the use of tobacco. All Virginia high school students are welcome to inquire about the activities in their area.

The Y Campaign is one aspect of the VTSFs comprehensive approach to empower the youth of Virginia to choose not to use tobacco products. Other strategies include innovative research, enforcement of Virginias tobacco access laws, and the funding of 111 community-based organizations throughout the commonwealth to conduct youth tobacco-use prevention programs, including 28 county and city school divisions. The VTSF also plans to serve as a resource for teachers, nurses, and counselors by developing an online resource center, which will include promise certificates, worksheets for students, and other campaign materials to help support educators and administrators. Additional information on the VTSF can be found at www.vtsf.org.

To obtain additional information on how to become a Youth Street Team member for the Y Campaign program, please call Tracey Leverty with Play (contractor coordinating Youth Street Teams) at 804-644-2200. If you have any questions, please contact Danny Saggese, VTSF marketing coordinator, at 804-225-3624.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

PIW/LN/nb