Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Honors REAL of Hawai'i As Youth Advocates o...( --Leadership in Fight Against Tobacco...),Health

--Leadership in Fight Against Tobacco Recognized Nationally--

WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the group REAL of Hawai'i have been named Youth Advocates of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for their leadership in the fight against tobacco. Members of REAL are being honored with the national group award at a gala in the nation's capital tonight (May 6) along with a national, individual winner and four regional winners.

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REAL was one of the nation's first statewide, youth-led tobacco control movements founded after the 1998 state tobacco settlement. Over the past decade, youth in Hawai'i have worked to gain adult support and recognition for youth empowerment and activism. They have worked to pass and defend a statewide smoke-free workplace law and advocated for a tobacco tax increase that passed on the first try. REAL also has worked on issues that reach beyond Hawai'i, supporting FDA regulation of tobacco products and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. With no paid media support, REAL works through peer-to-peer marketing and grassroots mobilization. Their most notable achievements include a "Girl Talk" campaign in response to R.J. Reynolds' marketing of Camel #9 cigarettes and "Youth Unite for Kick Butts Day," an all-day event at the state Capitol.

More than 400 public health, political, civic and business leaders will attend the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' 13th annual anniversary gala in Washington, D.C., to recognize these young leaders. The winners will receive educational scholarships and grants to continue their prevention efforts and serve as ambassadors for the Campaign.

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