Press Releases

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Announces Availability of Community Advocacy Grants

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) announces the availability of up to $624,000 in statewide Community Advocacy Grants to foster community involvement in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, preventing youth tobacco initiation, promoting cessation among youth and adults, and reducing tobacco-related health disparities. Approximately 47 TFL Community Advocacy Grants in amounts up to $18,000 each will be awarded statewide. The TFL Community Advocacy Grant Request for Application and complete guidelines are available for review and download at www.tobaccofreeliving.org.

All TFL Community Advocacy Grant recipients will be required to participate in one of three Scopes of Work that complement and extend existing Louisiana tobacco prevention and control efforts focused on youth (11-17 years old), young adults (18-24 years old), and communities disparately impacted by tobacco. Louisiana Institutes of Higher Education, including two and four year colleges and technical schools, community groups/organizations, and non-profit agencies with a 501©3 status are eligible to apply.

All interested organizations are invited to attend one or more informational web meetings on Tuesday, March 3 or Wednesday, March 4. To register for a web meeting, contact John Butts TFL New Orleans Area Regional Coordinator, at 504-301-9833.

Each year, tobacco kills approximately 6,400 Louisianans, says John Butts, TFL Regional Coordinator. Community Advocacy Grants are part of TFLs statewide effort to increase awareness about the health consequences of tobacco use and bring attention to the tobacco industrys blatant targeted marketing efforts among youth, young adults and communities disparately affected by tobacco such as service industry employees, musicians, persons living with HIV and the LGBT community. Ultimately, TFL is helping build the capacity of individuals and organizations statewide to advocate for tobacco-free policies that protect all Louisianans. With education, awareness and action we can successfully reduce the toll of tobacco in our state, starting at the community level, says Butts.

The TFL Community Advocacy Grant application submission deadline is March 24, 2009 at 4 p.m. CST. Completed applications may be submitted by mail or in person (only) to: Alicia Myers, TFL Administrative Assistant, 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1200, New Orleans, LA 70112. TFL Community Advocacy Grantees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-10 will be announced the week of May 11 15, 2009. The funding period is for one year and will begin July 1, 2009.