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Mini-Grant Opportunities for Youth-Led Tobacco-Use
Prevention Projects

TOPEKA, KAN. - The Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition, Inc. (TFKC) and TASK, the statewide youth movement against tobacco, received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to support youth tobacco prevention efforts in Kansas. To achieve these goals TFKC will engage youth in implementing grassroots education and media strategies through $1,200 mini-grants for youth groups.

Youth groups of 12 to 18-year olds from throughout Kansas may apply for grant funding. Visit the TASK Web site www.kstask.org for grant application information or contact the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition at 785.272.8396, mjhellebust@tobaccofreekansas.org.  The deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 3, 2009.  

“Teens in Kansas are asking questions about the impact of tobacco on themselves and their peers, and they want to learn how to avoid being trapped by marketing promotions for cigarettes and tobacco products,” said TFKC Executive Director Mary Jayne Hellebust said.  “These grant projects will set up opportunities for Kansas teens to demonstrate how they can help themselves and others from inheriting the tobacco-related diseases that plaque the older generation.”

Tobacco use remains a leading public health issue in Kansas. The 2007 Kansas Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 21 percent of Kansas high school students smoke, a higher rate than the 17.9 percent smoking rate for Kansas adults according to the 2007 Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.  To help youth address this health problem, mini grants will be awarded to empower local youth to be agents of change for reducing tobacco use, particularly in rural communities.  The projects goal is to encourage creativity in youth-led projects that focus on protecting themselves and their peers from becoming addicted to cigarettes and tobacco products

About Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition
The Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition is a statewide alliance of health, education, parent, youth, law enforcement and other civic organizations and individuals. TFKC advocates for laws, policies and funding of effective programs that will result in significant reductions in tobacco use and addiction, especially among children and high-risk groups. The coalition’s major goals are to prevent children from beginning a lifelong addiction to tobacco, to help those who want to quit smoking, to protect non-smokers from exposure to secondhand smoke, and to protect and assist those populations disparately affected by tobacco use.  For more information on TFKC please visit www.tobaccofreekansas.org.

About TASK
Initially formed in 1998 as an offshoot of the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition, TASK has evolved into an independent entity involved with the prevention of Kansas teen tobacco use. TASK assists local groups with becoming established TASK "companies" through the distribution of mini-grants. Companies work to inform teens of big tobacco manipulation and further the TASK mission of reducing teen smoking in Kansas. Three TASK regional coalition boards (west, central and east) and three regional consultants provide guidance and technical assistance to TASK companies.  For more information on TASK visit www.kstask.org.

Local Student Receives ADDY Award for Radio Spot

Topeka, KS (January 26, 2004) -- Ryan Bishop, recent graduate of Jefferson West High School, was honored Saturday night, January 24, at the Topeka Advertising Federation's Art in Advertising: The ADDY Show. Bishop, now a freshman at the University of Kansas, received an ADDY Award for a radio spot he created during his internship at Jones Seel Huyett Advertising in Topeka.

As a part of his internship, Bishop helped plan a Battle of the Bands for TASK, a youth led statewide movement that promotes tobacco free teens by uniting communities to create one strong voice standing against the tobacco industry. Bishop wrote the script and served as voice talent for the radio spot that aired on V100 in Topeka and 105.9 The Lazer in Lawrence.

The 2004 ADDY Awards is the Topeka Advertising Federation's annual awards program for television, radio, and print advertising. This year's awards program was presented in the spirit of the Bohemian art revolution, in which Bohemian artists joined a revolution at the turn of the 19th Century to change the way people viewed the world through the eyes of art.

Jones Huyett Partners, www.jhpadv.com, is a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency with the expertise in developing identities and strategies that help clients achieve competitive advantages. The agency creates innovative and effective communications for companies, products and services in all media. The firm is a member of the Topeka Advertising Federation.

April 24, 2003

The Wichita Eagle

Kansas students attend rally against tobacco. The middle-schoolers play games and learn about the tobacco industry's marketing tactics.

April 2, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TASK Releases Report on Statewide Youth Tobacco Prevention Efforts
Joins National Kick Butts Day Initiative April 2, 2003

TASK took center stage in the fight against tobacco use on April 2 as they joined thousands of young people nationwide for Kick Butts Day. TASK, statewide youth coalition, promotes tobacco free teens by uniting communities to take a stand against big tobacco. As part of the Kick Butts Day celebration, TASK released a report at Highland Park High School in Topeka on the group's statewide and local activities involving more than 122,000 Kansas youth.

In 2001 and 2002, TASK mini-grants funded 240 tobacco prevention events throughout 49 counties. Many local TASK Companies have taken their involvement a step further by initiating six policy changes. Two city commissions designated citywide "No Smoking Days" and a TASK Company in Stockton, USD 271, proposed a comprehensive smoke-free school grounds policy to the school board. The policy was passed and is enforced for the entire school district, prohibiting tobacco on school grounds at any time, by students and adults.

The release of the report is the culmination of a statewide media campaign targeting Kansas youth to take a stand against the tobacco industry. In conjunction with the release,TASK blanketed schools and youth hangouts throughout the state with flyers and ads promoting the tobacco free message. After the 1:00 p.m. announcement, TASK spread its message among Highland Park students.

"TASK is excited about these results," said Ryan Bishop, senior at Jefferson West. "The results prove we are educating and empowering teens to make a difference."

Tobacco companies' manipulative marketing tactics target teens and lure more than 2,000 young people each day into becoming regular, daily smokers. Roughly one-third of these youth will ultimately die prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases. In Kansas, tobacco companies spend an estimated $90.5 million to market their products and one out of every three Kansas high school students feel they need a cigarette every day.

Kick Butts Day, started by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in 1995, is an annual initiative that encourages activism and leadership among elementary, middle and high school students. It's the day America's kids stand up to tobacco, and America's adults stand up for kids. Kick Butts Day rallies and events take place in every state, and several nations, showing that kids have powerful voices in the fight against tobacco.

TASK promotes tobacco free teens by uniting communities to create one strong voice standing against the tobacco industry. TASK is funded by a grant from the American Legacy Foundation through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

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