National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
A new, privately-funded, national organization has been established to
focus the nation's attention and energies on reducing tobacco use among
children. The National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids is the country's most
significant nongovernmental initiative ever launched to protect children from
tobacco addiction.
The Center's mandate is to change the social environment and public
policies to decrease youth tobacco use, to limit the marketing and sales of
tobacco to children and to serve as a counter force to the tobacco industry
and its special interests.
The Center will work with a broad range of health, education and community
organizations, private industry and a bipartisan coalition of political
leaders to: serve as a communications center to disseminate information and
develop media campaigns and events; provide assistance to state and
community-level tobacco control programs; conduct outreach to broaden the base
of organizations involved; undertake research and analysis; coordinate with
federal, state and local governments; and engage in advocacy for supportive
public policies.
Long-term investments in the Center have been made by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation and the American Cancer Society. Other funders to date are
the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, and the Kaiser
Family Foundation. The Henry Ford Health System is also assisting.
The Center grew out of the CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS, a national
initiative to stop the illegal sale and unethical marketing of tobacco to
children. A toll-free number (1-800-284-KIDS) is being utilized to encourage
the public and interested organizations to get involved.
Organizations playing key partnership roles in the new Center include the
American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart
Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, the
National PTA and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Other organizations are
also participating.
The Center is a free-standing institution, based in Washington, D.C., with
its own board and staff. It will be fully operational in June, 1996, at which
time the CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS will be incorporated into the Center.
For More information on the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids and the
CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS, call (202)$$$-$$$$.
Coordinating Committee to Prevent Tobacco Use by Youth
1707 L Street, NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036 email: (removed)
(Those are zeros in the address no the letter O)