In recognition of Wegmans Food Markets’ efforts to promote community health and wellness, Governor David A. Paterson proclaimed today as Wegmans Tobacco-Free Day.

State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., today presented Wegmans Food Markets CEO, Danny Wegman, with the first New York State Tobacco Control Leadership Award. The award recognizes Wegmans’ significant contributions to advancing the health of New Yorkers by removing cigarettes and tobacco products from all Wegmans Food Markets.

“New York salutes Wegmans by proclaiming today Wegmans Food Markets Tobacco-Free Day throughout the state,” said Governor Paterson. “Today we recognize Wegmans’ vision and leadership in advancing the health of New Yorkers and its commitment to creating a more healthful environment for its customers and employees by removing cigarettes and tobacco products from all Wegmans Food Markets.”

“I am delighted to recognize Wegmans Food Markets as a good neighbor and as a leader in the industry and the community for putting the health of their customers and employees first,” said Commissioner Daines. “By stopping the sale of cigarettes and supporting an employee smoking cessation program, Wegmans sent a powerful message to their customers that tobacco is not welcome and cannot be a part of Wegmans’ healthy environment.”

Wegmans also established a free smoking cessation program for its employees who wanted to quit smoking, at the same time the company stopped the sale of all tobacco products in its stores. Since February, nearly 700 Wegmans employees and some of their family members have completed the smoking cessation program. Commissioner Daines also noted that Budwey’s Supermarket in North Tonawanda and the DeCicco Family Markets downstate have also stopped selling cigarettes and tobacco products.

For information about quitting smoking, please call the toll-free NYS Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), or visit the NYS Smokers’ Quitline website at http://www.nysmokefree.com/newweb/default.aspx.