CVS Health And Breathe California Announce Statewide Finalists In Student Film Contest On Youth Smoking

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Student filmmakers from high schools and middle schools across the state received regional honors in the third annual Anti-Tobacco Video Contest for the Public Service Announcements (PSA) produced to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco. The contest, organized by Breathe California as part of a $100,000 grant from CVS Health, invited middle- and high-school students in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco to submit a PSA video on their vision of the first tobacco-free generation.

Statewide winners will be announced on Saturday, February 25 in Sacramento as part of the Breathe Youth Media Awards, a unique youth choice awards program that aims to engage teens in anti-tobacco initiatives, such as rating tobacco use in popular movies, and educational opportunities around the dangers of smoking and e-cigarettes.

"The PSA videos are a great way for students to have conversations about the dangers of tobacco with their teachers and peers in their own words and to imagine what the first tobacco-free generation will look like," said Kori Titus, CEO, Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails. "We are very grateful to CVS Health for their support and leadership in helping to deliver the first tobacco-free generation."

Of the 50 entries submitted for the contest, the following middle- and high-school level PSAs were chosen as regional finalists and have been entered into the statewide Breathe Youth Media Awards:

• Naveet Khaira, Jasminder Mann, Jennifer Roberts; Christian Brothers High School (Sacramento)
• Matt Grossman, Josh Davis, Ben Vechter, Gabrielle Ferraro, Vincent Seyford, Derek Gale; Rio Americano High School (Sacramento)
• Tasneem Imbabi, Bella Simanhadi, Juliette Lopez, Anna Gorban, Kaitlyn Valdez; Gold River Discovery Center (Gold River)
• Liron Day, Manan Chopra; Dublin High School (Dublin)
• Sophie Azriel; Sunnyvale Middle School (Sunnyvale)
• Carlos Martinez, Elida Hernandez, Alondra Hernandez, Marvin Segovia, Mikhael Torres, Pedro Hernandez, Juliana Rodriguez, Afram Malki, Bryant Torres, Xochill Navarro, Leslie Morales, Alondra Hernande; Robert Fulton College Preparatory School (Van Nuys)
• Lorcan McSharp, John Lamm, Alex Kong; Northgate High School (Walnut Creek)
• Courtney Villasenor, Donovan Toney, Savanna Soto, Samantha De Alba, Alisa Moran, Logan Torosian, Angela Wesson, Nicholas Jackson, Alondra Carrillo, Esperanza Ayon, Leslie Alonso; McKee Middle School (Bakersfield)

CVS Health's support for Breathe California affiliates is part of Be The First, the company's five-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the first tobacco-free generation and extend the company's commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives. With support and funding through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, Be The First supports comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming delivered by a group of best-in-class partner organizations.

"Tobacco use, especially among our youth, is one of the most pressing public health issues that we face today," said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health. "We're proud to support Breathe California whose mission is to promote a tobacco-free generation and we look forward to continuing our work with them to harness the passion of young people to make an impact on the issues they care about."

In addition to the PSA contest, the grant provided by CVS Health will help each of the Breathe chapters expand their youth prevention training and education programming. Throughout the state, the Breathe affiliates will work to reduce the impact of lung disease through prevention, education, advocacy and patient services, as well as help to shape policies that support a healthier and safer California. To view the winning local PSAs, please visit http://bit.ly/2lQdheJ.

For more information about Be The First and CVS Health's commitment to tobacco-free living, please visit www.cvshealth.com/bethefirst.

About CVS Health

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:

Mary Alfieri
CVS Health
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com 
401-770-9811

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SOURCE CVS Health