FROM:Julie K.O. Trotter, Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator

NEWS RELEASE

TO:Eastern U.P. Media Network

FROM:Julie K.O. Trotter, Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator

Chippewa CountyTobacco-Free Living Coalition Coordinator

SUBJECT:Kick Butts Day 2009

CONTACT:Julie K.O. Trotter, 635-3636

DATE:March 12, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, about 3,500 kids under the age of 18 try smoking for the first, and another 1,000 more kids become new regular, daily smokers each day in the US. The tobacco industry spends over 13.3 billion dollars a year, more than 36 million dollars per day, on advertising and marketing their products in order to attract new customers. Almost 90 percent of adults who have ever been regular smokers began smoking by the time they were 18. More than 6 million children under the age of 18 who are alive today will eventually die from smoking related disease, unless current rates are reversed.

On March 25th, youth across the country will recognize Kick Butts Day (KBD), a nationwide initiative to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Thousands of kids across the country participate in this initiative every year by carrying out a variety of creative KBD activities such as community and school based education and awareness projects, surveying tobacco advertising in their communities, urging local officials to support tobacco-free ordinances and regulations; and tossing caps, hats, jackets and other items carrying tobacco brand names into giant dumpsters.

In ChippewaCounty, members of the Tobacco-Free Living Coalition are organizing the following activities with area youth in recognition of the event:

• The Sault Tribal Youth Council will provide Kick Butts Day skits at JKLBahwetingSchool on March 24th for 3rd-5th and 6th-8th graders.
• Sault Tribe Community Health Services will partner with JKLBahwetingSchool in hosting a Kick Butts Day Poster Contest for all students K – 8th grade. Winners will be announced on March 20th and will be featured in the Sault Tribe News. All posters will be displayed in the JKLBahwetingSchool gym on March 24th, when the Sault Tribal Youth present their skits.
• Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) Prevention Staff will partner with Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) and Working on Wellness (WOW) students to host a KBD information display table in the Sault High School Cafeteria during the lunch hours on March 25th. CCHD Prevention Staff will be available at the School Health Adolescent Care Center ( SHACC) to meet with and provide information to anyone who wants to quit smoking or chewing on that day.
• A Kick Butts Day Smoking Prevention Coolest Poster Contest will be hosted by CCHD Prevention Staff partnering with TATU and WOW students for the SaultMiddle School. Winners will be announced on March 26 and all posters will be displayed in the Middle School after the contest ends.
• The Sault High School(TATU) students will provide tobacco prevention presentations to Sault Middle Students after spring break.

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. The Campaign strives to build a healthier future for our children by reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

“We expect the number of KBD events to increase in 2009,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids, which coordinates KBD. “ Kids are a powerful part of the solution to reducing youth tobacco use.”

For more information about the local KBD events being organized in ChippewaCounty, please contact Karen Senkus at (906) 253-3103 or Lauren Eveleigh at (906) 632-5280. For information on the national initiative, visit the KBD website at