Aleutians East Borough School District – Fights Youth Tobacco Use

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: George Cromer III
March 20, 2012 (907)383-2393

Aleutians East Borough School District – Fights Youth
Tobacco Use
Joins National Kick Butts Day Initiative March 21, 2012
[Sand Point, Alaska] — Young people from Aleutians East Borough School District are
joining thousands of kids across the country who are taking part in Kick Butts Day, a
nationwide initiative that makes kids leaders in the effort to stop youth tobacco use. As
part of the Kick Butts Day celebration, Fighting Against Teen Smoking (F.A.T.S) at Sand
Point School, students are planning several activities for the students and the community
of Sand Point to be involved in Kick-Butts week.
Throughout the year, young advocates take part in a variety of activities to protect kids
from tobacco, including working with elected officials to develop policies that reduce
youth tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke and educating their peers about
tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing practices.
“I choose to have a tobacco free lifestyle because I want to live a long and healthy life
without worrying about the harmful effects that tobacco can do to me,” said Robert Curtis
Jr 18 years old. Also Nikki Mack 17 years old said, “I don’t know if it ‘s just me, but I
think it’s nice being able to breath”
In Akutan Alaska, the 8 students and teachers will
be hosting a local health fair for community
members to attend at their school. Akutan School
will have many booths setup displaying a variety of
important issues such as Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs
and Diabetes. Also in Sand Point, Alaska a village
with the population of 1000 will also be
participating in Kick Butts week. The 15 member
Junior High/ Senior High lead group, ages (13-18)
will be doing a door decorating contest, write
testimonials on why they want to be smoke-free on
a tribute wall, picking up cigarette butts around
town, and putting together letters to local business
and local government offices, to support Sand Point
Alaska in becoming a smoke-free town. Right to left Keith Wilson, Mathew Bravo, Above Jolan Rotter.
On March 21st, elementary, middle and high school students across the country are
organizing Kick Butts Day events to fight youth tobacco use. Young people will
participate in a variety of Kick Butts Day activities such as marching to state capitals and
holding rallies; meeting with elected officials; and holding flash mobs in busy community
spaces. In 2011, thousands of kids carried out hundreds of events. We expect this
number to increase in 2012.
“Kids are a powerful part of the solution to reducing youth tobacco use,” said Matthew L.
Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which coordinates Kick Butts
Day. “For Kick Butts Day 2012, kids are sending two important messages: they want
the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with advertising and they want elected leaders
at all levels to do more to protect them from tobacco.”
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in
the United States, killing more than 400,000 people
every year. Every day, more than 4,000 kids try their first
cigarettes; another 1,000 kids become addicted smokers,
one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.
The Washington, DC-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids is one of the largest non-governmental education and advocacy initiatives ever
undertaken to decrease youth tobacco use in the United States. Tobacco-Free Kids strives
to build a healthier future for our children by reducing tobacco use and exposure to
secondhand smoke.
For more information about the Kick Butts Day events in the Aleutians East Borough
School District, contact George Cromer III @ (907) 383-2393 / gcromer@aebsd.org .
For information on the national initiative, visit the Kick Butts Day website at
kickbuttsday.org.
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