The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) remains firmly committed to addressing the two leading causes of preventable death: tobacco use and obesity—while also confronting the growing challenge of substance use.

Virginia’s success with addressing high school smoking rates (a drop from 28.6% to 2.8%), has led us to be a perfect fit to run the only statewide youth prevention marketing campaign for cannabis products. With a legal retail market on the horizon, youth are at risk of using new products found on shelves each year.

Currently, we are seeing products like e-cigarettes that contain nicotine or marijuana (cannabis) and other substances that contain fentanyl and opioids. VFHY continues to educate our grantee network of 100+ on these issues, and fund state-wide public health marketing campaigns that address the ongoing threats to public health.

After celebrating our 25th anniversary, staff and the Board of Trustees began work on a new strategic plan which will be developed and implemented in Fiscal Year 2026. VFHY looks to continue collaborating with other public and private partners to empower youth to make healthy choices and will remain a great steward of the funds received from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

/s/ Marty Kilgore
VFHY Executive Director