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.

______________________________________________________________________________

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.

__________________________________________________________________________

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.

Hopewell, VA (August 31, 2022) – With Hopewell City Public Schools (HCPS) returning students to classrooms in late July, the division has been busy planning for a successful school year for its students. This includes division wellness and health staff for the division, who after meeting with Y Street students on behalf of the Rev Your Bev campaign, recently updated the division’s School 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 provide students involved in extracurricular activities the chance to practice healthy hydration behaviors as they stay active in clubs, sports, or other opportunities. The edit was developed 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.

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

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, VA (June 16, 2022) – On June 7, the Chesterfield County Public Schools’ School Board held one of its last remaining official meetings of the school year. As the board reviewed the past school year and laid out priorities for the next, two James River High School students joined the meeting to advocate for increased water access in Chesterfield schools to help students make drinking water a habit.

Haley Flores and Genesis Martinez attend James River High School and are members of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide, youth-led initiative Y Street. Y Street members across Virginia promote water as the number one beverage of choice and drive positive policy changes through VFHY’s campaign Rev Your Bev. The Rev Your Bev campaign seeks to provide information and resources to Virginia’s schools to help get students excited about water and committed to healthy hydration.

Despite a busy end to their school year, Haley and Genesis both felt that making time to encourage their division to update their student wellness policy by placing an emphasis on water access was a priority. Genesis noted that healthy hydration is important to her because she participates in a variety of extracurricular activities like Debate Club and soccer, and drinking water “helps keep her mind running…throughout the entire day.” Haley noted specifically that she feels her peers don’t consume enough water throughout the day, and that adding additional “water fountains throughout the school…” could encourage students to “be more hydrated and healthy.”  The ongoing efforts of Y Street members like Haley and Genesis both in their communities and across the state highlight a dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles and demonstrate the impact youth can have throughout Virginia.

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.

Charlottesville, VA (June 6, 2022) – In late May, the national grassroots and tobacco control organization Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) hosted their annual Clear The Vapor Conference. Speakers and participants for the event ranged from public health officials, federal congresspersons, and even one of Charlottesville High School’s own Y Street members, Max Tyree. Max presented on the environmental impacts of tobacco products, raising awareness of the waste that tobacco and e-cigarette-use produce – accounting for nearly 40% of all littered items – and its harmful effect on the environment, and shared his student advocacy work as part of 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 Max 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 outdoor policies.

Max 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%).

Beyond the data and research though, Max also shared his own personal experiences as part of Share The Air and the impacts he’s had in making Virginia’s outdoor public spaces 100% free of tobacco smoke and litter, and vape aerosol. Participating in “campaign community events is fantastic as they inform the community about the campaign and are so fun.” Max also noted his meetings with policymakers have been very impactful, and he feels that each of the meetings set up by the campaign “have all been vital to policy change.”

Continued work and dedication from Y Street members like Max are helping push Share The Air forward as it continues to promote healthier outdoor spaces that all Virginians are able to enjoy. You can view Max’s session online here.

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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.

Chesterfield, VA (May 2, 2022) – This week, Rev Your Bev, an initiative of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) supported by its statewide youth-led program Y Street, kicked off a new statewide event, Rev Your Bev Week. The week of action aims to promote water and support schools across Virginia in maintaining a positive, healthy learning environment by educating youth and encouraging increased water promotion and access in schools. 

As part of Rev Your Bev Week, Y Street’s partner schools and members are participating in a variety of activities to energize their schools’ existing efforts to increase students’ and staff’s access to water. This includes hosting events at their schools to provide tips on how to model healthy behaviors and providing students an opportunity to share their thoughts on water consumption and access. Members are also inviting their school administrators to join the celebration and encouraging them to team up with the Rev Your Bev campaign. 

Y Street members from Lloyd C. Bird High School hosted their Rev Your Bev event on May 2. These students set up a table during their lunch periods to ask their peers to show their support for Rev Your Bev and its model policy by writing messages of support and taking fun pictures with Rev Your Bev-themed items that were displayed on a banner. Y Street members shared their thoughts on the event’s impact.

Sophomore student Kaliyah Ampy noted that “events like this will benefit people to start drinking water more.” Fellow sophomore Jayla Johnson stated, “events like today’s are important because it promotes and supports the benefits of drinking water and why it is important to our bodies and needed for our existence.”

Through numerous events, direct outreach to policymakers, and the collection of over 8,000 surveys to date, the ongoing efforts of Y Street members in their schools and community highlight a dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles and demonstrate the impact youth can have in their schools and communities.

______________________________________________________________________________

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.