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.

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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 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.

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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.

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.

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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 County, VA – On May 9, 2023, the Chesterfield County school board voted to update its School Wellness Policy to ensure that all students within the division can practice healthy hydration behaviors while on campus. 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 youth-led 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. Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) updated wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices, ensuring water is accessible in high-traffic areas, and that schools throughout the division are promoting healthy hydration behaviors.

Y Street members like Haley Flores, a high school junior at James River High School, are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment. Haley presented and spoke at school board meetings to encourage the division to consider adding Rev Your Bev’s language to their wellness policy to make it comprehensive. During public comment, Haley shared, “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. That is why our goal is to increase the access, availability, and promotion of water in Virginia’s schools through comprehensive policy adoption.”

The impact of the updated policy is expected to increase students and staff’s water consumption and promote positive healthy hydration. CCPS joins the growing list of Rev Your Bev’s partners, becoming its 6th partner. CCPS will receive free resources such as water bottles as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy.

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Alberta, VA – The Town of Alberta parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free. On May 8, 2023, the Alberta Town Council voted to add a voluntary policy to prohibit tobacco use in outside parks and trails.

The vote 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.

Joy Bell, a Y Street member and high school sophomore at Brunswick High School, presented to the town council to share why this issue is important and how the town can provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents by going 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free stating, “I support Share The Air because I believe that my family and I should not have to be around second-hand smoke and the effects that it will have on us and others. We like to enjoy the outdoors and want to be able to enjoy being outside without having to worry about what could happen to our health while we are outdoors.” The Town of Alberta strives to create dedicated spaces that provide residents with a space to be active, relax, and gather outdoors and for this reason, the council passed a motion 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 Town of Alberta joins the growing list of Share The Air’s partners, becoming its 14th partner, and localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. The Town of Alberta will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

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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.

Richmond, VA (May 2023) – This week, teachers, early childhood educators, staff, and administrators across Virginia are pledging to role model healthy hydration behaviors as part of Rev Your Bev Week – a statewide week of action put forth by Rev Your Bev, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign. Its purpose is to promote water and the vital role it plays in student health and wellness and mobilize schools across Virginia to boost students’ ability to maintain healthy hydration habits in school and childcare institutions.

For the week of action, members of Y Street, VFHY’s statewide youth-led high school program, are leading their schools in fun activities to show their school communities how to make healthy hydration part of their school culture by leading by example. Teachers, administrators, aides, coaches, and other staff at school can be powerful role models in shaping the nutritional behaviors of students. Because of this, Y Street members are asking school staff to commit to role modeling behaviors such as pledging to carry a water bottle and refrain from drinking sugar-sweetened beverages in front of students as part of Rev Your Bev’s best practices. Y Street is showcasing staff pledges on social media to amplify their commitments and the healthy message it sends.

In addition, Y Street is collecting personal messages from their school community supporting healthy hydration promotion in Virginia schools. Abigail Shilling, a Y Street member and student at Fauquier High School, shared, “Empowering our school community to promote healthy hydration is important to me because hydration is crucial in everyone’s lives, and so many people don’t take it seriously or have access to it.”

Schools’ participation in Rev Your Bev Week will help bolster Rev Your Bev and Y Street’s overarching goal of encouraging school divisions to update their School Wellness Policy to increase water access and promotion in schools. Throughout the school year, youth have collected over 4,000 messages of support and met with their school board members to advocate for policy changes. Youths’ efforts have led to four divisions updating their wellness policies to align more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices: Hopewell City, Fauquier County, Caroline County, and King George County Schools, with more divisions joining the list soon.

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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.

About Rev Your Bev

Established in 2013, Rev Your Bev is a statewide obesity prevention campaign that aims to improve the health of all Virginians by encouraging individuals to drink more water. Learn more at RevYourBev.com

Richmond, VA (May 2023)  – King George County Schools (KGCS) 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. KGCS values the health and well-being of its students and staff. For this reason, the division updated its wellness policy earlier this year with comprehensive language that increases water access and promotion to align with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The updated wellness policy includes 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.

To celebrate its updated School Wellness Policy and the continued healthy learning environment it provides its students and staff, KGCS hosted a celebratory event on May 10, 2023. During the event, students, teachers, and staff participated in fun water-related activities and wrote Thank You messages, thanking KGHS for their efforts to empower their school community to make drinking water a habit. Students like Vivian Wright at King George High School are appreciative and shared, “I am so grateful that the school board was so open to our suggestions. It means a lot that they would listen to student input and start making changes.” Ayla Zook, a student also at King George High School expressed her enthusiasm sharing, “This policy change means so much to all of us in the school division. Not only will it create positive changes for water access right now, but it will help set trends of healthy hydration that will follow students and staff throughout their lives. For this, we are extremely grateful.” 

The Rev Your Bev campaign donated and distributed over 2,000 water bottles to support the division in implementing its policy, and provided water promotion posters and dispensers. 

KGCS  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. The Nutrition Director, Anita Davis, noted, “Water is essential to the hydration of our bodies, so drink up!” With KGCS partnering with Rev Your Bev and joining the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that emphasize 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.

About Rev Your Bev 

Established in 2013, Rev Your Bev is a statewide obesity prevention campaign that aims to improve the health of all Virginians by encouraging individuals to drink more water. Learn more at RevYourBev.com

Powhatan County, VA. – Powhatan County Parks and Recreation decided to recommit to establishing its parklands as tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free by reinforcing its existing parks rules that prohibit tobacco use within their properties. 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.

Last fall, Y Street members met with a member of the Board of Supervisors and the Deputy County Administrator to discuss how the county can enhance its community parks and outdoor recreational areas by strengthening its existing tobacco-free policy and partnering with Share The Air, which both expressed full support for. Soon after, Y Street members presented to the Commission on January 10, 2023. When asked why the campaign is important to them, Y Street member and student from Powhatan High School, Bre Gillespie, replied, “The Share The Air campaign is important to me because my family and I love to be outside. When the air is clean from tobacco and e-cigarette smoke we can have fun to the fullest. Through the Share The Air campaign it will make the outdoors better for more people.” Y Street’s presentation resonated with the Commission. As a county that strives to create dedicated spaces that provide residents with a space to be active, relax, and gather outdoors, in March, the department recommitted to going tobacco-free by signing a commitment form solidifying its partnership with the campaign.

Powhatan County joins the growing list of Share The Air’s partners, becoming its 12^th partner, and localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. “We are thrilled to partner with Share The Air to further enrich and preserve the quality of life for all who reside in Powhatan County. We pride ourselves on making Powhatan a fun place to live, work and play. This partnership will also enhance our ability to have visitors view Powhatan as an excellent place to play,” Megan Heatwole, the Director of Parks and Recreation shared. Powhatan County will receive free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to park visitors.

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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.

Hanover County, VA. – Hanover County’s parks and outdoor recreational areas are officially tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission recently made the decision to prohibit tobacco use at all playgrounds, trails, ballfields, and active use areas. The new policy is the first of its kind for Hanover County as they previously did not have an existing policy on the use of tobacco products in outdoor spaces.

The decision 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.

Last fall, Y Street members met with the Parks and Recreation’s Park Director to discuss how the county can enhance its community parks and outdoor recreational areas and provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents by going 100% tobacco-free and vapor-free which the director expressed full support for. In the months following, Y Street members presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission at its meeting on March 27, 2023.  Hanover County strives to create dedicated spaces that provide residents with a space to be active, relax, and gather outdoors and for this reason, the board signed a commitment form 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. Hanover County joins the growing list of Share The Air’s partners, becoming its 13^th partner, and localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. When asked about Hanover’s decision to partner with Share

The Air, Hanover County’s Parks and Recreation Director, Aaron Reidmiller, replied, “Hanover County Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing healthy spaces that allow our community to enjoy a variety of recreational pursuits. Through our participation in the Share The Air program, we have established a new policy prohibiting the use of tobacco products in and around our most heavily used park amenities. This new policy will improve the overall visitor experience, promote healthy lifestyle choices, and decrease litter in our parks.”

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

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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.

Richmond, VA (March 2023) – This week, Y Street, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide teen-volunteer initiative, is going into their communities to engage residents in tobacco-free messaging and advocate for tobacco-free parks and outdoor recreational areas. Parks are dedicated spaces within communities that provide kids and adults a space to be active and gather outdoors. At a time when Virginians are happy to get outdoors, Y Street members are striving 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 parks and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. From August 2019 to July 2022, Y Street members have collected over 10,000 opinion surveys from residents that show a strong majority of Virginians (90%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Virginians (91%) also feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (91%).

When asked why the campaign is important, Y Street member and local student, Haley Flores, from James River High School 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.”

The campaign has received positive feedback from its partner localities that have gone 100% tobacco-free, including Chesterfield County, Hopewell, King George County, New Kent County, and Fauquier County. Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Director Gary Rzepecki noted after the locality agreed to go tobacco-free in January 2023, 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.”

This week, the campaign has launched its 2^nd annual Share The Air Takes Action where Y Street members are speaking to residents about the benefits of tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands and rallying community members around this issue by asking individuals to submit messages of support for tobacco-free outdoor spaces. The campaign hopes that local parks and recreation departments will make changes to its park rules that include tobacco-free outdoor policies to provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents.

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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.