MYCP - Monroe Youth Challenge Program

Press Releases:

Smoking Prevention ‘Truth’ Truck Rallies Youth County-wide

KEY WEST (219 words) – Armed with the facts, almost 3,000 students county-wide took a stand against big tobacco companies. This week the truth truck engaged Monroe County middle and high school students as well as fourth- and fifth-grade students from Sugarloaf and Stanley Switlik Schools in the truth about tobacco.

In two days, students from Sugarloaf, Stanley Switlik Marathon High School, Coral Shores and Key Largo School signed close to 3,000 post cards as part of a campaign to ask magazines like Glamour, Vogue, Lucky, Elle, and Bazaar to stop publishing tobacco ads. The truth campaign is regarded as the most successful youth smoking prevention program in the world.

Photo Credit: MYCP
At Stanley Switlik, Maria Luther’s class was the first to have fun at the truth truck as part of the MYCP Red Ribbon Week youth substance abuse prevention campaign.

The truth truck tour was organized by Chris Tittel of the Florida Department of Health and Sunny Booker, volunteer director of Monroe Youth Challenge Program who sponsored the event as part of Red Ribbon Week to prevent youth substance abuse. “Tobacco is a drug and the cigarette companies manipulate youth. Once the kids got the facts, they chose to make a difference,” Booker said.

MYCP is a grass-root, non-profit organization whose mission is to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information call Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 or go to www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp.