WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS Health Foundation announced the first four grant recipients in its “Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free” grant program, a five-year, $5 million partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The foundation said Wednesday that the announcement coincides with Kick Butts Day, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ national day of activism that encourages youth to stand out, speak up and mobilize their communities.

“We’re excited to celebrate Kick Butts Day by showing our commitment to helping young people lead tobacco-free lives in partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,” Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation, said in a statement. “We are proud to support the dedicated work of these grantees who share our goal to educate young people about the dangers of tobacco in the hopes of making the next generation tobacco-free.”

Every day, more than 2,800 kids under the age of 18 nationwide try smoking for the first time, and 2.7 million high school students in the United States still smoke, the foundation reported. Through the “Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free” grant program, the CVS Health Foundation and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids aim to reduce youth tobacco use, especially among at-risk populations, educate the public about the problem of and solutions to youth tobacco use in local communities, and increase youth engagement in tobacco prevention activities.

The first group of 2015 grants awarded today includes BREATHE California of Los Angeles County; the California School-Based Health Alliance, Oakland, Calif.; the Health Promotion Council of Southeastern PA, Philadelphia; and the Ohio Public Health Partnership, Columbus, Ohio.

“We know that most adult smokers began smoking at a very young age. Through our partnership with the CVS Health Foundation, we’re one step closer to our shared mission to make the next generation tobacco-free,” stated Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “With the support of these grants, community partners will be able to expand the tobacco prevention resources they’re able to offer local youth and activate youth to reduce tobacco-use.”

Last year, CVS Health announced that all of the more than 7,700 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide would stop selling tobacco and launched a smoking cessation program that has since helped more than 67,000 patients quit smoking. In addition, since the its tobacco announcement, CVS Health has announced more than $1 million in grants to tobacco cessation organizations as well as launched the five-year partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids through the CVS Health Foundation.