American Cancer Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2002

CONTACT: Mary Coyne, 374-5333

Amarillo Area Foundation Assists Tobacco Initiative with Grant

The Amarillo Area Foundation approved a grant for $22,866 to the Texas Division of the American Cancer Society to assist with the media portion of Tobacco Free Amarillo. The grant will purchase broadcast and artwork rights to anti-tobacco materials for the mass media campaign that is being conducted in Amarillo and Potter County.

The grant is funded from the Pete and Wanda Gilvin Fund, a component fund of the Amarillo Area Foundation.

Tobacco Free Amarillo is a comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program funded by the Amarillo Hospital District from tobacco settlement money. The American Cancer Society, Texas Division, is fiscal agent for Tobacco Free Amarillo.

"This grant will have a major impact on the media campaign," said Mary Coyne, who is in charge of media for Tobacco Free Amarillo. "Having the funds from the Amarillo Area Foundation means that we won't need to use the $22,866 from the Amarillo Hospital District grant to purchase television and radio commercials and billboard art. Because of this, we can use that $22,866 of Amarillo Hospital District funding to purchase broadcast time and billboard space.

"The Amarillo media -- radio, television and outdoor companies -- have been very generous in giving this public service campaign 100 percent bonuses of time and space," she said. "The net effect is that the Amarillo Area Foundation's investment of $22,866 will allow the Tobacco Free Amarillo project to secure an additional $45,732 in media exposure.

"A media campaign at this level has been proven by the Texas Department of Health to be most effective in reducing tobacco use among youth and adults," Coyne said.

"The community foundation has a great interest in the local quality of life, and the troubling issue of excessive teen smoking will affect us all unless we act together to change things," said Ashley Allison, Amarillo Area Foundation Grants Coordinator. "The Foundation enjoys the opportunity to partner with other community organizations and businesses to maximize use of local resources - and this project is a great example of what the community can accomplish when we work together. I am convinced that by collaborating, we can make a significant difference in the futures of our youth and our region."

Tobacco Free Amarillo activities involve the community, schools, media, cessation, law enforcement and evaluation and are carried out by about 30 partner organizations throughout the community. For more information, visit the Tobacco Free Amarillo Web site at TFreeAmarillo.com or call Alonzo Peterson, project director, at (806) 353-7435.

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