Powhatan County, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 4,295 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, Powhatan County Public Schools is setting a great example for other school divisions to follow. 

The updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program Y Street.

Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it acts as fuel for your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. Powhatan County Public Schools’ revised wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The new policy language details additional provisions, including water availability before and after school, maintenance standards, allowances for water bottles, and encouragement for staff to model healthy behaviors. 

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Powhatan County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member and Powhatan High School student Bre Gillespie says, “It’s important because it now allows students and staff greater freedom when accessing water, which is an essential nutrient. Hopefully, now that this policy has passed, our school can do better than ever!”

The impact of the updated policy is expected to increase students’ water consumption and promote positive healthy hydration. Powhatan County Public Schools joins the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that prioritize water access and promotion, becoming Rev Your Bev’s 12th partner. “We are pleased to partner with the Rev Your Bev initiative to promote hydration in all Powhatan County Public Schools. Our partnership will bring various resources to help encourage students and staff to drink water throughout the day as an important part of maintaining the overall health and wellness in our schools,” says Kelly Sarkees, Comprehensive Intervention Specialist.

Powhatan County Public Schools will receive free resources such as water bottles from VFHY as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Fredericksburg, VA. – Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events decided to commit to making its parklands 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free to provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all to enjoy.

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and Virginia’s largest youth-led movement. VFHY and Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. 

In September 2023, Y Street members met with the Fredericksburg Recreation Commission to present how the city can enhance its parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience by going 100% tobacco-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member Vivian Wright, a resident of Fredericksburg, replied, “As the eldest of five, I support Share The Air as it allows my younger siblings, the youngest being 1, to be free to enjoy the outdoors without risking compromising their lungs. Every child and adult deserves the right to a clean environment.” The City of Fredericksburg strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, Fredericksburg’s Park Director recently signed a commitment form to adopt a voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air. 

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, and promote positive role modeling for youth who visit the city’s parks and outdoor recreational areas. Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 20th partner. Todd Brown, the Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Director, shared, “We are excited to partner with Share The Air to provide safe and healthy places to play and recreate. Residents and visiting park users will begin seeing the Share the Air signs in our parks this spring. This awareness campaign is to serve as another reminder of the City’s commitment to promoting a healthier community and a green, clean environment.” 

Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. 

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Chesterfield County, VA – Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 62,500 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, CCPS is setting a great example for other school divisions to follow. 

This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program Y Street.

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Chesterfield County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore.

CCPS’s revised wellness policy now ensures water is accessible in high-traffic areas and that schools throughout the division are promoting healthy hydration behaviors. To celebrate, CCPS hosted a celebratory event on January 9, 2024, at James River High School in Midlothian, VA. During the event, students, teachers, and staff participated in fun water-related activities and wrote Thank You messages, thanking CCPS for their efforts to empower their school community to make drinking water a habit. Students like Chaya McLean at James River High School are appreciative and shared, “Water plays a bigger role in our lives than giving credit to. It is amazing to see the positive impact Rev your Bev has had on my school and community. The campaign has been received with open arms, and everyone is really on board with it. The support is absolutely amazing. This policy win means so much to me and our whole student body.” 

The Rev Your Bev campaign donated and distributed over 1,000 water bottles to support the division in implementing its policy and provided water promotion posters, dispensers, and a Toolkit. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

York County, VA. – York County has taken a step towards promoting a healthier outdoor environment by implementing a new tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free policy for the McReynolds Athletic Complex in Yorktown, VA. The facility boasts 13 athletic fields, 2 playgrounds, and a multi-purpose path perfect for walking and jogging to name a few, an ideal location to begin enhancing residents’ outdoor experiences. 

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and Virginia’s largest youth-led movement. VFHY and Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. 

In November 2023, Y Street members, Morgan Morris and Alisha Mask, from Tabb High School met with the Director of Community Services, Sheri Newcomb, to explain how the county can provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents by going 100% tobacco-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Morgan stated, “As someone who suffers from asthma, I would like to enjoy my time in outdoor recreational areas without fear of a sudden asthma attack or having to use my inhaler due to secondhand smoking.” 

York County strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the Director of Community Services signed a commitment form to adopt a voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as promote positive role modeling for youth who visit McReynolds Athletic Complex. York County joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 19th partner. Director of Community Services, Sheri Newcomb, shared, Whether you are hitting a homerun, scoring a goal, or exercising on the fitness trail at the McReynolds Athletic Complex, residents can now enjoy the fresh air by avoiding smoking and vaping at the sports complex.” 

This is just the beginning, as the county hopes to extend this policy to all its parklands in the near future. York County received free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Martinsville, VA. – The city of Martinsville recently decided to commit to making its parklands and park facilities 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free to provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all to enjoy.

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and Virginia’s largest youth-led movement. VFHY and Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

On December 12, 2023, Y Street member and high school student from William Fleming High School, Cheyenne Sebastian, attended the city council meeting to explain how the city can enhance its parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience by going 100% tobacco-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Cheyenne replied, “I support Share The Air because kids should be able to play outside and not worry about cigarette butts and cigarette smoke in the air, and folks with asthma and other respiratory illnesses should be able to have the opportunity to be around air that doesn’t aggravate their illness.”

Martinsville strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, city council members expressed support, voting to adopt a tobacco-free outdoor policy and pass a resolution supporting Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as promote positive role modeling for youth who visit the city’s parks and outdoor recreational areas. Martinsville joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 18th partner. Mayor LC Jones shared, “The City of Martinsville is pleased to participate in the Share the Air program. The idea of tobacco and e-cigarette-free outdoor spaces perfectly aligns with Martinsville’s focus on its Fit City Initiative. We look forward to working with our partners at Share the Air to provide all citizens, especially our students, with educational resources on the harmful effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes. We hope that our participation will encourage other cities and towns throughout Virginia to join us in helping create healthy communities that have tobacco and e-cigarette-free outdoor spaces”.

Martinsville will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Brunswick County, VA – Brunswick County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 1,451 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, Brunswick County Public Schools is setting a great example for other school divisions to follow.

This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program Y Street.

Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it acts as fuel for your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. Brunswick County Public Schools’ revised wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices.  In addition to making water available during and after school, the new policy language includes a provision for water to be made available before the school day, ensuring that students have access to water all day.

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Brunswick County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member Joy Bell shared, “Rev Your Bev helps update policies. Thanks to this updated policy, students will have all access to drinking water, stay hydrated, and be able to stay focused on learning new things in school.”

The impact of the updated policy is expected to increase students’ water consumption and promote positive healthy hydration. Brunswick County Public Schools joins the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that prioritize water access and promotion, becoming Rev Your Bev’s 10th partner.

Brunswick County Public Schools will receive free resources such as water bottles from VFHY as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Richmond County, VA – Richmond County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 1,036 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, Richmond County Public Schools is setting a great example for other school divisions to follow. 

This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program Y Street.

Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it acts as fuel for your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. Richmond County Public Schools’ revised wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The wellness policy now recognizes water as an essential nutrient needed for student success, ensures all water provided is free to students, and encourages staff and personnel to model healthy hydration behaviors for students. 

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Richmond County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore. 

The impact of the updated policy is expected to increase students’ water consumption and promote positive healthy hydration. Richmond County Public Schools joins the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that prioritize water access and promotion, becoming Rev Your Bev’s 9th partner. “With a few minor changes will come major progress. We are bridging gaps between all of our stakeholders,” said Jason Houck, Cafeteria Director. 

Richmond County Public Schools will receive free resources such as water bottles from VFHY as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Henrico County, VA. – Henrico County’s parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free. Henrico Recreation & Parks recently decided to commit to making its parklands and park facilities 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free to provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all to enjoy.

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, Virginia’s largest youth-led movement and a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY). VFHY and Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

On October 4, 2023, Y Street members from JR Tucker High School and Highland Springs High School met with Henrico’s Recreation & Parks Commission to present how the county can enhance its parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience by going 100% tobacco-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member Nainika Sompallie replied, “I support Share The Air because my brother has had asthma his entire life, and when we’re in outdoor spaces, and someone is smoking or vaping, it causes his asthma to act up. Because of this, we can’t be in public spaces where someone is smoking due to the impact that secondhand smoke has on him. I believe everyone deserves to enjoy Virginia’s beauty, and by adopting a tobacco-free, e-cigarette-free policy, all Virginians, including those with respiratory conditions, can do exactly that.” Henrico County strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the Henrico Recreation and Parks Assistant Director signed a commitment form to adopt a voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, and promote positive role modeling for youth who visit the county’s parks and outdoor recreational areas. Henrico Recreation & Parks joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 17th partner. According to Assistant Director Matt Reynal, “Whether you’re relaxing near a pond watching the ducks or playing on one of our athletic fields, we want our parks to enhance the physical and mental health of our residents and visitors. Our partnership with Share The Air reinforces this commitment to providing a healthy environment for all park users by encouraging patrons to avoid smoking and vaping in our parks.”

Henrico Recreation & Parks will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, daycares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Warrenton, VA. – Warrenton parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free. The Town of Warrenton recently decided to promote voluntary compliance to prohibit tobacco and electronic smoking device use on all parklands, park facilities, open public spaces, and all enclosed and designated areas, including common areas, playgrounds, and shelters.

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, Virginia’s largest youth-led movement and a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

On September 12, Y Street members from Central High School met with the Town Council to present how the town can enhance its community parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience by going 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member Ashley Coulson replied, “I support Share The Air because I admire the goal of creating 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor public spaces. I’m always at the river near my home with my friends, family, and sometimes just myself. I enjoy the beauty and the serenity of the outdoors, and by supporting Share The Air, I can help preserve that beauty.” The Town of Warrenton strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the town council members expressed support, voting to adopt a tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, and promote positive role modeling for youth who visit the town’s parks and outdoor recreational areas. The Town of Warrenton joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 16th partner. Kelly Koernig, Director of Parks and Recreation, said, “We are excited to partner with Share The Air to further enrich and preserve the quality of life for all who reside in and visit the Town of Warrenton. This partnership enhances our ability to provide safe and healthy places to play and recreate. We invite residents and visitors to “Experience Warrenton” through our parks and facilities.

The Town of Warrenton received free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Lexington, VA. – Lexington’s parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free. The City of Lexington recently decided to promote voluntary compliance to prohibit tobacco and electronic smoking device use on all parklands, park facilities, open public spaces, and all enclosed and designated areas, including common areas, playgrounds, and shelters.

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, Virginia’s largest youth-led movement and a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

In May, Y Street youth members from Rockbridge County High School met with the Lexington City Council to discuss how the city can enhance its community parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience by going 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member Jackson Speers replied, “Everyone deserves to enjoy their time outside, whether you’re sitting in a park, walking along a trail, or anything else. Nobody wants to be outside breathing in secondhand smoke. The Share The Air campaign is special because it promotes a cleaner environmental change in its message. It is important that people of all ages can have peace of mind enjoying the outdoors.” The City of Lexington strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the mayor and city council members expressed full support, voting unanimously to adopt a tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, and promote positive role modeling for youth who visit the county’s parks and outdoor recreational areas. The City of Lexington joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 15th partner. Lexington’s City Manager, Jim Halasz, shared, “The Lexington City Council has always been supportive of activities that encourage a healthy lifestyle. The Share The Air program is a natural fit for the Lexington community and to keep all residents on the path to healthier lives.”

The City of Lexington will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.