WASHINGTON, April 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Model Christy Turlington, a former smoker turned tobacco prevention advocate, will serve as Master of Ceremonies at this year's Youth Advocates of the Year Awards sponsored by the CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS. T

"You simply cannot overestimate the importance of what these kids are doing," said Turlington. "Contrary to the belief that smoking is just a teenage rite of passage, I'm here to tell you that it's not because it is harmful. We are talking about an addiction that carries well into adulthood -- and can ultimately cost you your life. Teens need to hear from other teens and role models that smoking is not cool, it is not sexy and that the only ones who benefit from kids picking up this lethal habit are the tobacco companies." Turlington started smoking at age 13 and quit at age 26 after several failed attempts to do so. She spent years convincing her father to stop smoking only to watch him die from lung cancer six months after he quit. Her experience motivated her to produce an anti-smoking public service announcement for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to testify before the U.S. Senate Democratic Task Force on Tobacco and to act as spokesperson for the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. Turlington joins a growing number of celebrities who support teen tobacco prevention efforts through the CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS. Olympic figure-skating gold medalist and CAMPAIGN spokesperson Tara Lipinski will present awards and singer/songwriter and producer Richard Marx will perform at the gala. The awards ceremony will be preceded by a silent auction of celebrity-donated items such as a script from the final episode of Seinfeld, autographed by the entire cast; a script of "Tuesdays With Morrie" signed by Ted Koppel; and a baseball autographed by Derek Jeter. In past years, celebrities such as Rob Reiner, Al Franken and S. Epatha Merkersen have presented awards to youth winners. This year's Youth Advocates of the Year Awards will be presented May 11 at a gala event at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The reception and silent auction begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and awards ceremony at 7 p.m. The CAMPAIGN will honor one national winner, five regional winners and a group winner. Youth Advocates receive scholarship funds and a stipend to continue their tobacco prevention work throughout the year.

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