Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Honors Evolvement Denver As Group Youth Advocates of the Year

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May 13, 2015, 12:53 ET

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of Evolvement Denver have been named Group Youth Advocates of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for their leadership in the fight against tobacco. Ana Karen Cendejas Esperano, 18, Ellen Kaufman, 16, Ezinna Ohaya, 17, and Nestor Montejo, 18, will be honored at a gala in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 14.

Evolvement Denver brings together youth advocates who are working to stop illegal tobacco sales to kids and prevent youth tobacco use by promoting a tobacco retail license ordinance in Denver. Colorado is currently one of only 14 states that do not require retailers to obtain a license to sell tobacco products, making it harder to prevent sales to minors.

Through the Licensed to Sell Tobacco (L2ST) Initiative, the activists have educated Denver citizens about tobacco retail licensing and garnered their support for the cause. The youth also attended more than 40 community events where they collected over 4,500 hand-written messages of support, which they posted on social media and will present to the City Council. They gained the support of a City Councilman who is now championing the ordinance, while also reaching out to retailers, community organizations and business institutions.

"We are thrilled to honor the members of Evolvement Denver as our Youth Advocates of the Year," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "Young leaders like these are changing minds and getting results – both by convincing their peers to reject tobacco and spurring elected officials to take action. With their help, we can make the next generation tobacco-free."

Over 400 public health, business, civic and political leaders will attend the gala to recognize Evolvement Denver, four regional award winners and one national winner. The winners will receive scholarships to continue their prevention efforts and will also serve as youth ambassadors for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans and costing the nation about $170 billion in health care bills each year. Without strong action now, 5.6 million kids alive today will die prematurely from tobacco-caused disease, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

In Colorado, tobacco use kills 5,100 people and costs the state $1.9 billion in health care expenses each year. Currently, 10.7 percent of the state's high school students smoke.

Additional information about the youth award winners, gala and tobacco can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

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SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids