COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend fifty-two teen leaders from across Ohio confirmed the future direction of the stand campaign to reduce youth tobacco use. stand is Ohio's first-ever tobacco counter-marketing campaign that will use

"We know that for the stand campaign to be effective the message must resonate with Ohio's young people," said Michael Renner, executive director of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation (TUPCF), which sponsored the Summit. "The goal this weekend was to give these teen leaders the tools they need to play an active role in the campaign development and to ensure that the campaign is built upon their ideas." During the Summit, the teens learned about the health perils of tobacco use, how tobacco companies target advertising to specific audiences and why young people are a primary focus of the stand campaign. Youth Committees Focusing on Specific Campaign Elements The Advisory Panel met for the first time at the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts. After the teens learned about the campaign objectives, they formed committees to brainstorm how to develop a campaign including advertising, online communications, community leadership and a statewide music contest. The Summit concluded with each committee presenting its ideas to further develop the campaign. "The students demonstrated their firm endorsement of the stand brand and are ready to deliver that message to youths across Ohio," said Renner. Students at the Summit had this to say about their experience and why they wanted to be involved in the stand counter-marketing campaign: "I feel very strongly about tobacco and believe that tobacco is a drug. I know people that use tobacco and hope that I can influence them to quit. I was surprised to hear how many people in Ohio die from tobacco-related illnesses." Danny Ecker, Worthington Kilbourne High School, Columbus "I want to get some of my family members and friends to stop smoking. It is not healthy. I was shocked to learn about some of the chemicals that are put in cigarettes." Heather Bulford, Niles McKinley High School, Niles "I am participating because two of my grandparents died from lung cancer. I am very against smoking and I don't like how tobacco companies target teens." Kevin Lowery, Garfield Heights High School, Garfield Heights "I quit smoking because I was in the band. Smoking and being in the band doesn't mix. It was hurting my health." Brandi Hall, Aiken High School, Cincinnati "I have been involved in tobacco advocacy for about four years. My grandfather died from lung cancer. I signed up to be on the web committee because these days technology is more important and a lot of kids are online and spend time there. It is a good way to reach those kids. Kids need to know that they can have fun without using tobacco." Kelly Park, Revere High School, Akron "I have been involved in anti-smoking programs for the last year. There are a lot of kids that smoke and I want to pass around the information to help kids not start smoking." Mike Streb, Canton Central Catholic High School, Canton "I want other kids to know why this habit is a bad one and that it is leading them to an earlier death." Teresa Egbert, Westerville North High School, Columbus "I have been involved in anti-smoking programs since the sixth grade. With stand, I can reach more kids to keep them from smoking. I learned about how influential advertising can be." Kira Heeley, Lakewood High School, Lakewood "I selected the advertising committee because it is what the outside will see on this campaign, it reaches out to people and really makes them start to believe. I want to help shape the campaign. I feel strongly about tobacco issues and I want to educate others because that is why I am here." Sarah Cooper, Northmont City Schools, Englewood "I want to do my part to smash the blatant capitalist greed the tobacco industries perpetrate and I also want to try and educate as many people as possible about the effects. I selected the music outreach program because music is universal and it will reach a wide variety of kids and age groups." Dylan Taylor-Lehman, Zanesville High School, Zanesville "I've always been involved in tobacco prevention. I hate seeing people smoke, its nasty and it kills people." Nicholas Bryan, Elida High School, Lima About stand Officially launched on February 28 at events around Ohio, the stand counter-marketing campaign encourages Ohioans to take a "stand against tobacco" through uniquely branded advertising, interactive and community-based activities to reach and empower the diverse populations across Ohio, with special attention on youths. About TUPCF TUPCF was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 2000 and is funded with monies secured from the highly publicized national Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between tobacco companies and 46 states, including Ohio. The Foundation is charged with reducing tobacco use among Ohioans, with an emphasis on reducing the use of tobacco by youth, minority and regional populations, pregnant women, and others who may be disproportionately affected by the use of tobacco.

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