Chester County Tobacco Free Coalition

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Coalition Initiatives and Events

Students “Kick Butts” with Anti-Vape Memes:



The Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition and the Chester County Health Department recently selected three middle school students as winners in the annual Kick Butts Day Meme Contest, celebrated on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.  Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco.  In recognition of this event, the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition challenged Chester County middle school students to participate in a contest to create anti-vaping memes, which are typically humorous, captioned photographs shared on web and social media.

The Coalition received several hundred contest entries.  The 2020 finalists are youth advocates from Owen J. Roberts Middle School (South Coventry) and Downingtown Middle School (Caln).  Each contest winner created a compelling meme appropriate for an adolescent audience, where vape initiation remains at peak.  Entries were judged by members of the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition.  The winners will receive gift cards and certificates of recognition; the winning schools will receive posters of their students’ winning meme to be displayed at school.

2020 Winners:

1st Place:  Tyler Tincher, Owen J. Roberts Middle School
Tyler Tincher Meme

2nd Place:  Kelly Cameron, Owen J. Roberts Middle School
Kelly Cameron Meme

3rd Place:  Jordan Herkendaal, Owen J. Roberts Middle School
Jordan Herkendaal Meme

Honorable Mention:  Josh Carpenter, Downingtown Middle School
Josh Carpenter Meme



Students “Kick Butts” with Anti-Vape Memes, March 20, 2019:

The Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition and the Chester County Health Department recently selected three middle school students as winners in the annual Kick Butts Day Meme Contest.  Students were recognized during the school day on Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20, 2019.  Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco.  In recognition of this event, the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition challenged Chester County middle school students to participate in a contest to create anti-vaping memes, which are typically humorous, captioned photographs shared on web and social media.

The Coalition received over 100 contest entries.  The 2019 finalists are youth advocates from Saint Agnes School (West Chester Borough) and Owen J. Roberts Middle School (South Coventry).  Each contest winner created a compelling meme appropriate for an adolescent audience, where vape initiation remains at peak.  Entries were judged by members of the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition.  The winners received gift cards and certificates of recognition; the winning schools received posters of their students’ winning meme to be displayed at school.

Contest winners:

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  • Pictured at Owen J. Roberts Middle School: Austin Kincaid (3rd place) warning students of the consequences of drug use at school, and Taylor Vermillion (1st place) linking vape toxins with an increased risk of cancer.
  • Pictured at Saint Agnes School: Madelyn Kelley (2nd place) with her winning meme, advising students to “drop that JUUL”.

Great American Smoke Out, November 15th, 2018

The Chester County Health Department and the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition encourage smokers and vapers to take part in the Great American Smokeout beginning on Thursday, November 15th by making a plan to quit or stop using nicotine for the day.

In observance of the Great American Smokeout, the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition is distributing free “quit kits” throughout the County.  Quit kits are quart-sized bags containing free tobacco cessation resources and small items to ease cravings and promote a healthy first day going nicotine-free.  Quit kits are useful for those who currently smoke, vape or chew and are ready to go nicotine-free.

Quit kits will be available at the following locations through the remainder of the month of November (as supplies last):

  • Caron Treatment Center, various locations throughout the County
  • ChesPenn Family Health Services, Coatesville
  • Chester County Drug & Alcohol Services, West Chester
  • Chester County Health Department, West Chester
  • Chester County Hospital, West Chester and Jennersville
  • City of Coatesville Police Department, Coatesville
  • Delaware County Community College, Downingtown/Exton/Jennersville campuses
  • Government Services Center, West Chester
  • Holcomb Behavioral Health, Exton
  • Main Line Health Center at Exton Square Mall, Exton
  • Nicotine Anonymous, West Chester
  • Paoli Memorial Hospital, Paoli
  • Tower Health Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville

    Research shows that smokers and vapers are most successful in quitting when they have support, including telephone smoking-cessation hotlines, local cessation classes, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy products. Support information can be found at the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition website (http://chesco.org/2485/CCTFC).

    Information on the dangers of vaping and the liquid nicotine in vape products like JUUL can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/pdfs/Electronic-Cigarettes-Infographic-508.pdf).

    The Pennsylvania Free Quitline is a free, evidence-based tobacco cessation service available to all Pennsylvanians. Annually, the PA Free Quitline provides services to over 13,000 Pennsylvanians. Free support services can be accessed by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

    For more information on how to quit tobacco, to schedule a tobacco/vape prevention program or to pick up a quit kit, contact Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition Chair, Lindsay Smith, [email protected] or 610-344-5209.


Kick Butts Day, April 25th, 2018

CCTFC encourages middle school students to stand up, speak out and seize control over big tobacco by participating in a Kick Butts Day contest each winter.  The coalition hosted an anti-vape meme contest for Kick Butts Day 2018.  We received over 200 contest entries, and our 2018 winners are highlighted below.

Click here to view the winning memes.

Pictured from left to right at Owen J Roberts Middle School: Dylan Woodgate (3rd Place), Zach Evans (1st Place) and Jacob Evans (Honorable Mention).  Pictured at Fred S. Engle Middle School: Mathea Dunn (2nd Place).
KickButtsWinners2018      KickButtsWinners2018_2

Great American Smokeout, November 16th, 2017

In celebration of the Great American Smokeout, CCTFC will assemble and distribute 1,000 “quit kits” to assist tobacco users in planning their quit date.  Quit kits include small items that aid withdrawal, such as information for the best rated cessation apps, hotline numbers, lollipops, tea and lemonade, and rubber bands.  To reserve quit kits for your church, school, worksite or agency, please contact Lindsay Smith before November 2017.

Advocacy Day, May 31, 2017

Longtime coalition partner, Phoenixville Hospital, collaborates with the Phoenixville Area School District’s TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) club. They host in-school tobacco-free campaigns, plan special events, and visit the Capital on Advocacy Day.

Rep KampfTATU