Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids names Judy Cortes Delos Reyes as the 2026 Global Young Ambassador of the Year
Washington, D.C. – The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has named Judy Cortes Delos Reyes of the Philippines as the recipient of the 2026 Global Young Ambassador of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership in mobilizing young people to protect their generation from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction. Delos Reyes will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2026.
The Global Young Ambassador Award honors a young advocate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing tobacco control policies and elevating youth voices in public health advocacy worldwide.
Delos Reyes serves as a project manager for Parents Against Vape in the Philippines, where he has supported the passage of strong tobacco control measures in the city of Casiguran, helping protect communities from exposure to secondhand smoke. He has also brought youth perspectives to the national stage, including speaking before the Senate of the Philippines on the impact of nicotine addiction among young people.
A member of the inaugural cohort of the Tobacco-Free Kids Global Young Ambassadors Program, Delos Reyes has demonstrated leadership in the Philippines and on a global stage. He is also a co-founder of Global Youth for Tobacco Control (Y4TC), a network uniting young advocates to strengthen global tobacco control efforts.
“Judy represents the power of youth advocacy,” said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Judy’s leadership demonstrates how young people are not only the future of tobacco control, but they are also leading it today. His work is helping to protect communities today while shaping a healthier, tobacco-free future for generations to come.”
“In every advocacy effort and every policy passed, a life is protected, a dream is restored and a family gains hope,” said Delos Reyes. “This is more than advocacy—it is about safeguarding lives and building healthier futures, ensuring that the next generation has the chance to live free from harm.”