Ky. Center for Smoke-free Policy recognizes communities, groups and individuals who work to create smoke-free communities

Lori Fulton Brookbank is Smoke-free Advocate of the Year. Image from the Smoke-free Tomorrow Facebook page

The Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy honored communities, groups and individuals from across the state who are making progress in creating healthier, smoke-free communities. The awards were presented Nov. 10 at a virtual award ceremony. 

“Kentucky has had an amazing year as we now have 38 communities with comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws, covering 36.2 percent of Kentuckians," said University of Kentucky nursing professor Ellen Hahn, director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy. "We have experienced extraordinary momentum and leadership by local elected officials and advocates for smoke-free and tobacco-free protections even during the pandemic. These community heroes are making Kentucky a better place to breathe.” 

This year’s awards include:

The Smoke-free Indoor Air Excellence Award recipients were the cities of Hazard, Perryville, and Hodgenville as well as Perry County (which includes Hazard) for their leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting the health of their citizens by enacting comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinances.

The Smoke-free Excellence in E-Cigarette Policy Award recipients were the cities of Corbin, Campbellsville, and Williamsburg for their leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting the health of their citizens by strengthening their comprehensive smoke-free ordinance to include e-cigarettes.

The Smoke-free Endeavor in E-cigarette Policy Award recipients were Franklin County, its seat of Frankfort and the City of Hopkinsville for their leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting the health of their citizens by adding e-cigarettes to their partial smoke-free ordinance.

The Lee T. Todd Jr. Smoke-free Hero Award  recipients were Hayley Leach and Sierrah Miley, UK Tobacco-Free Take Action Ambassadors, for their commitment to smoke- and tobacco-free environments in the face of adversity.

The Timothy W. Mullett, MD, Lung Cancer Prevention Award went to Angela Criswell of the Lung Cancer Alliance, and Lindi Campbell of Breath of Hope KY, for their devotion and passion for preventing lung cancer through education, advocacy, or policy change. 

The Lifetime Achievement in Tobacco Control Award recipient was Mary Singler, retired health -promotion manager with the Northern Kentucky District Health Department, for her exceptional career devoted to leadership in tobacco control.

The Tobacco-free Campus Award recipient was Western Kentucky University for its leadership and collaboration in promoting a healthy campus environment by implementing a 100% tobacco-free campus policy.

The Smoke-free Youth Advocate Award recipient was the Mason County High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy.

The David B. Stevens, MD, Smoke-free Advocate of the Year recipient was Lori Fulton Brookbank, with the Smoke-free Partnership of Mason County, for her excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy. 

The other two nominees for the Smoke-free Advocate of the Year award were Shirley Daulton of the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, and Jennifer Osborne of the Lincoln Trail District Health Department.