TOBACCO FREE AMARILLO

December 2, 2001

CONTACT: Mary Coyne, 374-5333
TfreeAmarillo.com

Young Leaders Dinner Scheduled

The Tobacco Free Amarillo program is sponsoring a Young Leaders Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 4 in the Amarillo Independent School District Education Support Center Boardroom, 7200 W. 1-40.

Students from various high schools in Amarillo will have an opportunity to learn more about TFA and its many volunteer opportunities.

"Involvement from the youth is an essential component to the success of our campaign", Alonzo Peterson, TFA project director, said. "We want their ideas".

Part of the dinner will include a discussion on tobacco use and prevention in the school system. Students will then be asked to put their ideas into action and develop programs and activities that will deter high school students from using tobacco. A study in 1999 by the Texas Department of Health shows a 31% smoking rate for high school students in Amarillo.

"Some of the best programs designed to keep a high school student from smoking are going to come from other high school students." Peterson said.

Many of the students who will attend the dinner recently participated the Teen Tobacco Summit and have accepted the challenge to stay tobacco free and help educate their peers and young children. Additionally, several businesses have donated door prizes that will be given away during the dinner. Students may RSVP by contacting their drug prevention specialist or call 353-7370.