December 12, 2007
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
314.345.5500 office

Foundation Allocates $3 Million to Fund Tobacco Quitline

Private Grant Supports Services Not Funded By State

ST. LOUIS- The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has given a $3 million grant to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to enhance its Missouri Tobacco Quitline. The three-year grant is funded through MFH's Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Initiative, a nine-year, $40 million effort by the foundation to curb tobacco use in Missouri. The grant comes in the wake of a national study released December 12 that shows Missouri is dead last in state spending on tobacco prevention and cessation services.

Missouri's quitline, which can be reached by dialing 1-800-QUITNOW, provides counseling and resource materials to help individuals stop smoking. Across the country, quitlines have proven to be integral parts of comprehensive tobacco prevention programs.

Previously, MFH has provided limited funding for the Missouri quitline. However, this grant allows for enhancements in services and enables DHSS to expand its promotion of the quitline across the state.

"There is a particular need for quitlines and cessation services in states like Missouri, where the smoking rate is higher than the national average yet none of the dollars received by the state through the tobacco settlement have been committed to tobacco prevention education," said Dr. James R. Kimmey, MFH president and CEO. "Through its multi-year initiative, MFH has committed to reducing tobacco use among Missouri residents and fully supports efforts such as the quitline, which are proven to be effective."

The Missouri quitline, which is staffed by tobacco cessation specialists, is available 7 am to 11 pm daily.

Established in 2000, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in Missouri. MFH is in its sixth year of grantmaking, having issued more than $265 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured, underinsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.

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