CVS commits $5M to tobacco-free kids

The CVS Health Foundation is making a $5 million five-year commitment to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to launch a new grant program.

Through the “Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free” program, the CVS Health Foundation will partner with Tobacco-Free Kids to provide grants to organizations committed to implementing public health strategies to reduce youth tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

"The CVS Health Foundation is committed to helping people lead tobacco-free lives and working toward the goal of making the next generation tobacco-free," said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. "We are proud to partner with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the leaders in youth tobacco awareness, prevention and advocacy, through this grant program to empower youth and provide them with the resources needed to reduce tobacco use among young people."

The "Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free" grant initiative will support programs that help to reduce youth tobacco use, especially among at-risk populations, educate the public about the problem of and solutions to youth tobacco use in local communities and increase youth engagement in tobacco prevention activities. The first grant recipients will be announced on Kick Butts Day, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and mobilize their communities on youth tobacco issues, which will be held this year on March 18.

"Together with the CVS Health Foundation, we hope we can raise even more awareness of the serious problem of tobacco use that virtually always begins with youth and accelerate progress toward our shared vision of a tobacco-free generation," said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "This innovative partnership comes as we mark one year since the announcement that CVS/pharmacy locations would no longer sell tobacco products, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of CVS Health and its foundation to continue to help people live tobacco-free."

Last year CVS Health announced it would stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,800 CVS/pharmacy locations. CVS Health has 7,800 retail pharmacies and more than 900 walk-in medical clinics.