Tobacco.org

Tobacco company's offer of money causes moral dilemma for 4-H clubs 

``We've made a decision that we at this time are not going to pursue part of those monies,'' said Christy Leeds, acting associate state leader for the Ohio 4-H program.

Part of the reason, Leeds said, was concern about taking part of a two-year, $4.3 million grant, shared among participants nationwide, from a tobacco company.

``That issue was raised in some staff members' minds -- what's the long-term implication of aligning our name, whether it's an Anheuser-Busch or the maker of guns and weapons?'' she said. ``I think we'd look at any kind of company and say, `Is this the image we want to align the 4-H name with long term?' '' . . ``Philip Morris and other tobacco companies . . . have embarked on a huge endeavor to buy back respectability,'' Novelli said. . . Novelli's group claims about 27 state 4-H groups have opted not to take any of the grant money from Philip Morris.

Neiberger questioned whether that figure was high, saying the National 4-H Council had received only ``a couple of letters from a couple of state 4-H offices'' saying they would not participate.

Jump to full article »

That issue was raised in some staff members' minds -- what's the long-term implication of aligning our name, whether it's an Anheuser-Busch or the maker of guns and weapons? . . . I think we'd look at any kind of company and say, `Is this the image we want to align the 4-H name with long term?'
Christy Leeds, acting associate state leader for the Ohio 4-H, which has refused the Philip Morris anti-youth-smoking program. Quoted in <i>Critics: Tobacco money taints 4-H image</i>