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.

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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.

Prince George County, VA (April 5, 2022) – The Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department made the decision to update its parks rules prohibiting tobacco- and e-cigarette-use in all of its outdoor recreational areas, effective March 30, 2022. The department has a longstanding rule that prohibits tobacco use in the general vicinity of playgrounds, athletic fields, restroom/concession buildings, and trails. However, following a meeting with Hopewell High School students and Y Street leaders, Phylisha Taylor and Anita Hall, and hearing their testimony on why adopting a comprehensive policy is important and beneficial for everyone, the department signed a commitment form to expand their existing rule so all parklands will be smoke-free, vapor-free, and tobacco-free.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Phylisha 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 urging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Research has demonstrated 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%).

With Hopewell 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. VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore thanks Y Street members like Phylisha and Anita for their continued advocacy and commends Hopewell for their commitment. “VFHY is proud to see youth advocacy like Phylisha and Anita’s lead to healthier communities. This decision by the Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department is a testament to their dedication to provide safe parklands and public spaces for all visitors.”

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

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

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

Westmoreland County, VA (January 27, 2022) – As we all enter the new year, Virginians across the state often develop resolutions to help improve their health as well as the health of their communities. The locality of Colonial Beach made this resolution and was proactive in achieving it early in 2022. Director of the Colonial Beach Parks and Recreation Department, Robert Duke, took time at the start of the year to meet with King George High School freshman and Y Street member Vivian Wright to discuss the importance of establishing and sustaining tobacco-free and e-cigarette free parklands.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Vivian strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces so they are active and able to enjoy the outdoors and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands and public spaces by urging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies. “I am so happy Colonial Beach now has tobacco-free parkland spaces,” Vivian stated. “As a resident of Virginia, I feel it is my responsibility to help make sure it stays beautiful. Partnering with Share The Air helps ensure my siblings and I grow up in a beautiful and healthy environment without worrying about the effects of second-hand smoke or litter.”

Research has demonstrated that a strong majority of Virginians (89%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Colonial Beach is proud to give the citizens and patrons of the locality’s public spaces what they want. Duke and Colonial Beach Mayor Robin Shick signed a commitment form to have their parklands go tobacco-free. Duke noted “It is important for us to have a smoke-free atmosphere at our parks and green spaces. We are thrilled to be partnering with Y Street and their Share The Air campaign.”

Colonial Beach joins King George County, the town of Shenandoah, and the town of Stanley as leaders in promoting clean and healthy parklands. VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore thanks Y Street members like Vivian for their continued advocacy and commends Colonial Beach for their dedication. “VFHY is proud to see youth advocacy like Vivian’s lead to healthier communities. This decision by the Colonial Beach Parks and Recreation Department is a testament to their dedication to providing safe parklands and public spaces for all visitors.”

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

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

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

Brunswick, Prince William, Fauquier, Virginia (November 10, 2021) – 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 its 10th Rev Your Bev Annual Celebration. Throughout the month, Y Street members are hosting events at their school and leveraging social media to empower their school community and the public to incorporate drinking water into their daily activities.

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.

VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore also shared her comments on the campaign’s longevity and continued success. “VFHY is proud to celebrate 10 years of Rev Your Bev with our Y Street Youth Leaders. This celebration is a testament of their tenacity and commitment to empowering their peers to make healthy choices.”

Adding to the celebration is a new partnership between Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation and VFHY. In collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation recently installed new water filling stations in local schools to make accessing water easier for the attending students. Water bottle filling stations were installed in the following Y Street partner schools:

Fauquier High School – Warrenton, VA

Brunswick High School – Lawrenceville, VA

Greensville County High School – Emporia, VA

With these new water bottle filling stations, students will now have increased access to water and the opportunity to choose water and establish healthier behaviors before, during, and after the school day. “The hydration station is amazing because we can fill our bottles up super fast. Also, the water is cold so it makes drinking water so much better,” noted Lily Paccassi, a senior at Fauquier High School and Y Street Youth Leader. “Because of the hydration stations, I think I drink a lot more water during the day.”

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, VA (October 28, 2021) – This week, Virginia park recreation experts and leaders from across the commonwealth gathered in Harrisonburg for the 2021 Virginia Recreation & Park Society‘s (VRPS) Annual Conference. Amidst the three days of presentations, exhibit halls, and networking opportunities was one of Shenandoah’s own high school students, Cheyenne Estep, advocating for healthier outdoor public spaces for all Virginians.

Central High School senior and Y Street youth member Cheyenne Estep presented on establishing and sustaining tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands as a deliberate effort to create healthier outdoor experiences for Virginians and raise awareness on the harms of secondhand smoke and vape aerosol. Y Street youth members like Cheyenne strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces to be active and enjoy the outdoors.

One way they do that is by rallying their communities behind the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands and public spaces by urging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt voluntary policies that promote tobacco-free, smoke-free, and vapor-free outdoor environments.

“Speaking at the VRPS Annual Conference was a great opportunity to share my experiences with parks and recreation directors from across the state,” Cheyenne stated. “It’s important to me and my peers that parks, public spaces, and events promote healthy lifestyles, and that’s why I hope more parks departments decide to partner with Share The Air.”

The Town of Shenandoah has already started taking necessary steps by creating Tobacco-Free Play Zones and partnering with Share The Air. In January 2021, Shenandoah’s Mayor Clinton Lucas, Jr. signed the Share The Air commitment form, committing the city to provide tobacco-free and vape-free parklands, park facilities, and open public spaces.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore thanked Cheyenne and other Y Street youth for their continued advocacy throughout the commonwealth as they work towards healthier outdoor public spaces for their communities. “The advocacy work that Cheyenne and her Y Street peers are doing is critical in empowering youth to make healthy choices and I commend the initiative and leadership Y Street’s youth members demonstrate every day in their communities across Virginia.”

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.