• June 11, 2008

The American Legacy Foundation's anti-smoking campaign for youth, called "truth," is hitting the road Friday for its ninth annual nationwide summer tour. The tour, which starts in Jackson, Miss., will seek to talk to kids about the insalubrious qualities of tobacco and the social consequences of using it.

Two crews in orange "truth trucks" will make more than 60 stops at teen-oriented events in 30 states. One of the teams travels with the Vans Warped Tour, an annual summer rock festival; another will hit events like "Tony Hawk's Boom Boom HuckJam," an action sport focused on skaters, BMX riders, and Freestyle Moto-Xers; the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival; Jubilee!JAM an arts and music festival in Jackson and others.

The crew is selected from 1,700 applicants. The campaign, which launched in 2000, comprises advertising, Web sites and interactive elements, events, and grassroots outreach.

--Karl Greenberg