Chesterfield County, VA. – Chesterfield County’s parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free. The County’s Parks and Recreation Department recently made the decision to fully establish its parklands as 100% tobacco-free by prohibiting tobacco use within 50 feet of sporting events, spectators, or gatherings in outside parks.

The commitment 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 make sure 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.

Y Street member and local student, Haley Flores, from James River High School met with the Parks and Recreation Department to discuss its existing park rules surrounding tobacco use and how they can provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents by going 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free. When asked why the campaign is important to her Haley replied, “the Share The Air campaign is very important because of my family’s health issues. It is important to me that my sister and mother are able to go outside without worrying about having an asthmatic attack. I believe that through the Share The Air campaign change will be possible and really benefit the community.” Haley’s presentation resonated with the department, and as a county that strives to create dedicated spaces that provide residents with a space to be active, relax, and gather outdoors, the department recommitted to going tobacco-free by signing a commitment form with support from its Advisory Committee.

The impact of the 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. Chesterfield County joins the growing list of Share The Air’s partners, becoming its 9^th partner, and localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

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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.

King George County, VA (March 6, 2023) – Each school year brings new opportunities to improve on the last and find ways to grow. King George County Schools did just that by updating its School Wellness Policy to help meet the additional nutritional needs of its students. The revised policy includes comprehensive language with an emphasis on promoting water and healthy hydration. The language was developed in collaboration with students from King George High School as part of the Rev Your Bev campaign, a statewide obesity prevention initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) that is supported by its youth-led 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. On February 6, 2023, King George County’s School Board voted to update its wellness policy to align more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The revisions include language that ensures good-tasting water is accessible to students and staff during and after the school day and encourages students, staff, and administrators to model positive hydration behaviors. Including Rev Your Bev’s best practices not only marks a significant victory for the division but also for the campaign and Y Street members who led the effort.

On February 22, 2023, at King George County’s School Board meeting, King George High School students were recognized and applauded for their dedication and advocacy efforts. During the meeting, student and Y Street member Ayla Zook thanked the school board for making the decision to update the School Wellness Policy, and stated that “it will probably make a big impact on everyone moving forward and just help everyone.”

With the updated wellness policy in place, King George County Schools now shifts its focus to implementation. As the 4th new partner of the Rev Your Bev campaign, the division will be gifted free resources such as water bottles to distribute to all its students to support its implementation efforts.

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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.

Hopewell, VA (February 24, 2023) – Hopewell City Public Schools has partnered with the Rev Your Bev campaign, an obesity prevention initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), to encourage its school community to drink more water during the school day and recognize the academic and health benefits of making this choice. Hopewell City Public Schools values the health and well-being of its students and staff, and for this reason, updated its wellness policy in August 2022 with comprehensive language that increases water access and promotion to align with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The updated wellness policy recognizes water as an essential nutrient and ensures that students not only have access to water during the school day but before and after school as well.

To celebrate its updated School Wellness Policy and the continued healthy learning environment it provides its students and staff, Hopewell City Public Schools hosted a celebratory event on February 23, 2023. During the event, students, teachers, and staff participated in fun water-related activities and wrote Thank You messages, thanking Hopewell City Public Schools for their efforts to promote healthy hydration and empower their school community to make drinking water a habit. Students like Anita Hall at Hopewell High School are appreciative and shared, “I want to acknowledge and thank our school division for updating its wellness policy. It’s important to prioritize our growing youth and ensure that they have water accessibility.” The Rev Your Bev campaign also donated and distributed 1000 water bottles to support the division in implementing its policy, and provided water promotion posters and dispensers.

Hopewell City Public Schools is excited about its updated wellness policy and the extraordinary steps they are taking to increase water consumption and ensure all students have an opportunity to be healthy and successful. Division Manager of Food Services, Susan Jacobs, noted, “Water is an essential element to the body. Young people should be educated about the healthy impact that drinking water has on their mental and physical capabilities. Providing fresh water helps students give their bodies the adequate nutritional elements they need to focus and learn.”

With Hopewell City Public Schools partnering with Rev Your Bev and joining the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that place an emphasis on water access and promotion, more Virginia students now have more access to water throughout the school day.

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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 into 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.

Bowling Green, VA (February 23, 2023) – Caroline County Public Schools has partnered with the Rev Your Bev campaign, an obesity prevention initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), to encourage its school community to drink more water during the school day and recognize the academic and health benefits of making this choice. Caroline County Public Schools values the health and well-being of its students and staff, and for this reason, updated its school wellness policy in December 2022 with comprehensive language that increases water access and promotion to align with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The updated wellness policy recognizes water as an essential nutrient and ensures that students not only have access to water during the school day but before and after school as well. 

To celebrate its updated School Wellness Policy and the continued healthy learning environment it provides its students and staff, Caroline County Public Schools hosted a celebratory event yesterday, February 22, 2023. During the event, students and staff participated in fun water-related activities and wrote Thank You messages, thanking Caroline County Public Schools for their efforts to promote healthy hydration and empower their school community to make drinking water a habit. Students like Anthony Lanning at Caroline High School are appreciative, sharing “I would like to thank the school board and all of the people involved in updating the wellness policy that I and Y Street advocated for. I would love to share that thanks to this wellness policy update we are now going to be able to have better access and awareness of the benefits of drinking water and how it can help with your health”. The Rev Your Bev campaign also donated and distributed 4,218 water bottles to support the division in implementing its policy.

Caroline County Public Schools is excited about its updated wellness policy and the extraordinary steps they are taking to increase water consumption and ensure all students have an opportunity to be healthy and successful. Mr. Jeff Wick, Coordinator of Safety and Compliance shared that, “CCPS recognizes the importance of drinking water for hydration as well as student and staff health, and we are honored to partner with Y-Street to not only promote the benefits of drinking water to all of our K-12 students but also to provide them with a valuable resource to do so via its Rev Your Bev campaign.  This is a valuable partnership that we look forward to continuing for many years.”

With Caroline County Public Schools partnering with Rev Your Bev and joining the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that place an emphasis on water access and promotion, more Virginia students now have more access to water throughout the school day.

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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 into 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.

Fauquier County, VA. – On January 20, Fauquier County Parks and Recreation made the decision to recommit to establishing its parklands as tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free by reinforcing its existing parks rules that prohibit tobacco use within 50 feet of sporting events, spectators, or gathering in outside parks. Parks and outdoor recreational areas are dedicated spaces within our communities that provide youth, adults, and families a space to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. With Fauquier County Parks & Recreation’s tobacco-free outdoor policies, everyone of all ages can now do this in cleaner and healthier outdoor areas.

The commitment was initiated by Y Street, Virginia’s largest youth-led movement and a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. Y Street youth members strive to make sure 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 local government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies and support them in doing so by providing free resources such as tobacco-free signage.

In 2021, the Director of the Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Department, Gary Rzepecki, met with Y Street members from Fauquier High School to discuss their existing park rules surrounding tobacco use and how they can make an even greater difference by partnering with the Share The Air campaign. On January 20, 2023, the Park Director confirmed their commitment to the campaign and creating 100% tobacco-free outdoor public spaces by signing a commitment form. Fauquier County is proud to partner with Share The Air with Mr. Rzepecki noting that “having tobacco-free spaces in Fauquier County Parks fits our mission of providing spaces for mental and physical health and wellness activities. Partnering with the Share The Air campaign promotes a healthier environment and strengthens our existing partnerships in Fauquier County and the state of Virginia.”

With Fauquier County partnering with Share The Air and joining the growing list of local parklands with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, more Virginians now have access to outdoor spaces free from secondhand smoke and vape aerosol, and tobacco and vape litter.

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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.

Fauquier County, VA (January 10, 2023) – The start of the new year brings new opportunities to improve on the last and find ways to grow. Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) kicked off the new year by strengthening their Student Wellness Policy to ensure that all Fauquier students can practice healthy hydration behaviors while on campus. This updated policy was developed in collaboration with local Fauquier High School students as part of the Rev Your Bev campaign, a statewide initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) that is supported by its youth-led 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. Fauquier County’s new Student Wellness Policy now ensures students will not only have access during the school day, but before and after as well. This will guarantee that students participating in extracurricular activities will be able to stay safe and hydrated. Additionally, the new policy will allow all students the opportunity to bring their own water bottles to class, encouraging them to stay hydrated throughout the day. This policy is especially notable because as a new Rev Your Bev partner, the division will be gifted 1,000 water bottles to be distributed to students.

Y Street members like Fauquier High School sophomore Lincoln Taylor are committed to supporting their school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment with Lincoln participating in school board meetings to encourage the adoption of the new Student Wellness Policy. “Hydration is vital to the success of students and can improve academic performance. As a student, I find it easier to concentrate and perform when I am adequately hydrated. For many students, schools are their only reliable source of meals and or possibly even drinkable water.”

With the new water access policies in place, FCPS now shifts its focus to implementation. The Rev Your Bev campaign will continue to work closely with FCPS to ensure that the updated Student Wellness Policy is implemented efficiently and effectively. The campaign will also assist the division in communicating the policy to the school community.

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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.

Caroline County, VA (December 14, 2022) – Although Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS) is quickly approaching the holiday break, the division’s leaders are still working on important policies and improvements for their students for the new year. On December 12, the Caroline County School Board held its last meeting of 2022 this week. The meeting included an important update of the division’s Wellness Policy. The updated policy now ensures that all students will not only have access to water during the school day but before and after school as well. This change will empower students involved in extracurricular activities to practice healthy hydration behaviors as they stay active in clubs, sports, or other opportunities. The new policy will also provide students with the opportunity to carry water bottles throughout the day to encourage consumption. The updated policy was created and adopted in part due to the efforts of the Rev Your Bev campaign, a statewide initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) that is supported by its youth-led 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. The inclusion of Rev Your Bev’s policies throughout Hopewell’s schools marks a significant victory for the campaign and the Y Street members who led the effort.

Y Street Leadership Team member and Caroline County High School student Anthony Lanning provided public comment at the school board meeting to encourage the adoption of the proposed Wellness Policy. Anthony pointed out the benefits of water consumption in his comments to the School Board. “I used to drink a lot of soda before joining Y Street thinking the caffeine would help keep me awake. It turns out it doesn’t and just made me more tired when I was dehydrated. Water is more helpful with keeping me awake and my mind focused.” CCPS’ Coordinator of Safety and Compliance, Jeff Wick, highlighted the impact Caroline County Y Street members had on the creation of this new policy, noting Y Street does “a lot of good work in the schools not only with drinking water but promoting [student] leadership.”

With the new water access policies in place, CCPS now shifts its focus to implementation. The Rev Your Bev campaign will continue to work closely with CCPS to ensure that the updated

Wellness Policy is implemented efficiently and effectively. The campaign will also assist the division in communicating the policy to the school community.

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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.

Virginia Beach, VA (November 10, 2022) – This week, Virginia park recreation experts and leaders from across the commonwealth gathered in Virginia Beach for the Virginia Recreation & Park Society‘s (VRPS) Annual Conference. Amidst the three days of presentations, exhibit halls, and networking opportunities, were two local Virginia Beach high school students and Y Street members Jessica McMillan and Christopher Silmon. Jessica, a senior at Manor High School,  and Christopher, a sophomore at Tallwood High School, participated in the conference’s Director’s Forum to present directly to park directors from across the state and encourage them to partner with the Share The Air campaign.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Jessica and Christopher strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by encouraging Parks and Recreation Departments and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies.

Jessica and Christopher shared a variety of data and research highlighting that a strong majority of Virginians (89%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (91%). Past research has shown that these products do harm the environment in a variety of ways. Waste from tobacco products accounts for nearly 40% of all littered items, making them the most littered items in the United States. These products are toxic to many wildlife as well as children. Additionally, discarded tobacco and e-cigarette products have also been known to lead to wildfires which pose a significant risk to parklands and other natural spaces.

Christopher and Jessica made sure to leave a strong impression on the park directors in attendance. When asked about their involvement in promoting tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free public spaces via the campaign, Christopher noted “Share The Air allows me to make a change in the community and keep the people and parklands I care about safe from secondhand smoke.” Jessica noted that she felt compelled to present to the states’ park directors when offered the opportunity. She mentioned that because she and her friends have asthma that “they are cautious in public spaces because of secondhand smoke.” Jessica pointed out that she hopes more parks and recreation departments and localities will adopt tobacco and e-cigarette-free policies in the future to help protect the health of her and the other over 570,000 individuals who are reported to have asthma in Virginia.

Continued work and dedication from Y Street members like Jessica and Christopher are helping to promote and create healthier outdoor spaces that all Virginians are able to enjoy.

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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.

Shenandoah County, VA (September 30, 2022) – Earlier this year Central High School student and Y Street member Ashley Coulson met with the Winchester Parks and Recreation Department’s newly appointed Director Chris Konyar to discuss the issue of tobacco and e-cigarette-use in outdoor public spaces. She explained how tobacco and e-cigarette-use in outdoor areas produce litter that is not only unsightly but poses significant health and environmental hazards. Ashley encouraged the town of Winchester to adopt tobacco- and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies to create healthier outdoor experiences for residents. This was a message that resonated with the Winchester Parks and Recreation Department. For several months, the department worked and collaborated with local officials to establish its parklands as 100% tobacco-free. In September, Winchester showed its commitment by reinforcing its local ordinance that prohibits tobacco and e-cigarette in its outdoor recreational areas and committing to becoming Share The Air’s newest partner locality. 

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Ashley and others in Shenandoah County strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting Y Street’s campaign Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by encouraging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Research has demonstrated that a strong majority of Virginians (90%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (92%). 

When asked about the outcome and her impact on Winchester’s decision, Ashley responded “it felt really empowering to be able to get my voice out there. I’m happy that they took the information I shared into consideration and put it into action. My family is super outdoorsy so having spaces that are now tobacco-free makes me feel good that we’ll be able to fully enjoy the outdoors.” 

With Winchester partnering with Share The Air and joining other park leaders in promoting clean outdoor air, more Virginians now have healthier outdoor spaces where they can gather and be active. When asked about Winchester’s decision to partner with Share The Air, Winchester  Parks and Recreation Director Chris Konyar replied “the mission of Share The Air matches the City of Winchester’s overall mission, especially the goal of strengthening Winchester by fostering a safe, healthy, and diverse community for all with ample opportunities for recreation, wellness, and cultural activities. Outdoor spaces in the Winchester Community should be tobacco free to foster clean and healthy outdoor spaces.”

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.

Hanover County, VA (August 29, 2022) – The Ashland Parks and Recreation Department made the decision to update its parks rules prohibiting tobacco- and e-cigarette-use in all of its outdoor recreational areas, effective August 16, 2022. This process began last February, when Samaria Walker, a student from nearby J.R. Tucker High School and a Y Street leader, met with Ashland Parks and Recreation staff to advocate for 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free parklands. The effort continued in May when Samaria was joined by her fellow Y Street leader and Hopewell High School student Anita Hall to present to the Ashland Parks and Recreation Committee, sharing their testimony on why protecting Virginia’s parklands by making them free of tobacco smoke and litter and vape aerosol is important to them. Following the committee’s recommendation for adoption, the Ashland Town Council voted unanimously at their last meeting to adopt tobacco and e-cigarette-free policies for all its public recreational spaces.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Samaria and Anita strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by encouraging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Research has demonstrated that a strong majority of Virginians (90%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (92%).

“Life these days can be so busy,” Samaria notes. “So when I do have time to spend outdoors, it’s very important to me. It also means so much more to be able to do that without being exposed to tobacco byproducts.”

With Ashland partnering with the Share The Air campaign and joining other park leaders in promoting clean outdoor air, more Virginians now have healthier outdoor spaces where they can gather and be active. When asked about Ashland’s decision to partner with Share The Air, Ashland Parks and Recreation Coordinator Emmy Houck replied “going tobacco-free in Ashland’s outdoor spaces is an action step towards realizing the goals set forth in our 2017 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. We want to create an inclusive environment that promotes the well-being of our community and improves quality of life. Ensuring our spaces are tobacco-free encourages a welcoming, clean, and safe environment for park-goers. Ashland has a vibrant and engaged community that values the Town’s parks and recreation offerings. Going tobacco-free will continue to serve our citizens and further enhance the appeal of our park system.”

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.