“We would like to say thank you and hold these organizations and individuals up as a model for other organizations in our community,” said Marcus Mohalland, Coordinator for Reality Check. “Their efforts are important as we work to reduce the number of youth who initiate smoking and to change the social norms around smoking.”

 

“Contributions from this diverse group of honorees include adopting smoke free campuses, reducing/removing tobacco advertising, refusing to accept tobacco company sponsorship and promotion, agreeing to ‘ask, advise and assist’ patients who smoke and adopting smoke free apartments,” said Sharon Fischer, Coordinator for Tobacco Free Broome. Julie Stashko, Coordinator for Tobacco Free Healthy Schools added, “There are many individuals in this community who would like to be a part of creating a new, healthier generation that will not be affected by the ravages of tobacco related illness and death.”

 

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo will provide the opening remarks at the event. The tobacco control partners receive funding from the New York State Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program, which utilizes evidence-based strategies in preventing and reducing tobacco use and eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke.