Sign the Pledge

I pledge to accept no money from the tobacco industry or its affiliates.

I am committed to nurturing the health and quality of life of the communities I serve. I pledge to stand with the health of these communities by choosing to receive funds from people and entities that have our best interest at heart. I decline to accept money from the commercial tobacco industry.

As litigation and the tobacco control movement generally have revealed long-term unethical practices from tobacco companies, they have sought to rehabilitate their image through philanthropy and other forms of public gift. This also serves to normalize commercial tobacco companies in public discourse. While public health understanding of tobacco’s effects is ever-evolving, it is clear that commercial tobacco harms communities and especially youth.

By accepting funds from sources that demonstrate their commitment to my community and choosing to refuse funding from commercial tobacco industry sources, I am denying Commercial Tobacco the legitimacy it seeks. Community leaders, public health professionals, community educators, and health practitioners who sign this pledge are working to detangle the impact of tobacco funding on communities we serve. This will in turn improve public health and quality of life.