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Formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1999, VTSF leads the statewide effort to reduce and prevent youth tobacco use. VTSF promotes healthy living habits through classroom educational programs and our award-winning multimedia “Y” campaign.

In 2009, the Virginia General Assembly added the responsibility for childhood obesity prevention to our mission. Nearly a third of children in Virginia are overweight or obese, and VYOP is developing a comprehensive approach to raise awareness and promote community involvement.

Founded in 2003, our sister 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raises funds for VFHY’s youth prevention efforts. Prevention Connections also promotes smoking prevention and cessation among young adults.

About Us

Formerly known as the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth was established by the Virginia General Assembly to lead statewide efforts to reduce and prevent youth tobacco use and childhood obesity.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, about 9,300 kids under the age of 18 become new smokers each year. Established in 1999 by the General Assembly, our Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF) division continues to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use through a multifaceted prevention approach. VTSF directly reaches more than 60,000 children across the Commonwealth each year with community based classroom programs, and it reaches hundreds of thousands more through its award-winning radio and TV ads and Web sites.

Also of concern to the health of children in Virginia is the growing childhood obesity epidemic nationwide. In Virginia alone, more than 30 percent of children and teens are considered overweight or obese. Our new Virginia Youth Obesity Prevention initiative will work to promote good nutrition and physical activity among the youth of Virginia. Learn More »


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Funding Opportunities

Safe Routes to School Mini Grants: Prevention Connections is offering $2,000 mini grants to Title I schools in Virginia to start safe walking/biking routes to school.


Announcements

July 20, 2010
Press Release: 1 of out 3 Va. teens surveyed mistakes new smokeless tobacco products for candy, gum or mints

June 26, 2010
Press Release: More than 100 kids to perform in finale event for VFHY's Step Royale childhood obesity prevention pilot program on June 26 in Norfolk

May 18, 2010
New Virginia Childhood Obesity Survey Results Released: Press Release and Full Survey Report

May 12, 2010
Intent to Award Funding: VFHY Board of Trustees has approved organizations to receive one-year program grants (RFP #852P012). The board also awarded marketing contracts and evaluation contracts for FY 2011.

Save the Date: May 17-18, 2010
Mark your calendar for Virginia's first Weight of the State Conference: A Statewide Summit on Childhood Obesity at The Westin Richmond hotel in Richmond, Va.! Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell is the conference's honorary chair.

Jan. 20, 2010
Virginia's new First Lady, Maureen McDonnell, will help us celebrate Virginia Healthy Youth Day at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square! (Press Release)

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