CVS Health Foundation announces funding for tobacco-prevention programs

WOONSOCKET – In Rhode Island, eight percent of high school students smoke and an additional 500 youth under the age of 18 become daily smokers each year. The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership and the CVS Health Foundation, a private foundation created by CVS Health, are working together to reduce youth tobacco use statewide.

Shortly after its recent announcement of a new $50 million initiative called Be The First, designed to reduce youth smoking, the CVS Health Foundation announced a new round of grants as part of its $5 million investment in Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to further educate youth on the dangers of tobacco use. That announcement was made on March 16, “Kick Butts Day,” a national day of activism that empowers youth to fight tobacco use in their communities.

With a $38,000 grant from the CVS Health Foundation, the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership will integrate tobacco prevention training and activities into existing direct service mentoring programs for elementary and middle school youth.

The partnerships with the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is part of Be The First, for which CVS Health has set actionable and measurable goals during the next five years, including contributing to a 3 percent decline in the national youth smoking rate, a 10 percent decline in the number of new youth smokers and doubling the number of tobacco-free college and university campuses.

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