OGDENSBURG — About 60 youth from Reality Check New York and No Limits Nebraska are hoping to have their voices heard in Virginia today at the Altria Group shareholders annual meeting.

Altria is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes and related products.

This, the third such annual trip by Reality Check teens from across New York State, is themed “Cold As Ice” to parody the new Marlboro Ice Blast packaging and marketing campaign by Altria Group, owner of Marlboro maker Philip Morris USA (PMUSA).

Demonstrators around the Richmond Convention Center will include 60 youth from Reality Check New York and No Limits Nebraska carrying snowmen puppets and ice cube shaped balloons.

Three Reality Check teens have been given shareholder proxy tickets and will go inside the meeting to address corporate tobacco executives and ask questions.

“Philip Morris USA claims it doesn’t market to kids and doesn’t want them to start smoking,” said Joseph Boswell, coordinator of the Reality Check program of St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis County. “If that’s the case, then why are they spending $9.6 billion per year to market their Marlboro and other products where kids are likely to see it?”

Reality Check says studies show that kids who shop in stores with tobacco marketing, such as gas stations and convenience stores, are 64 percent more likely to start smoking than their friends who don’t.

“Despite what they say, Philip Morris USA spends billions marketing their deadly products right in front of us,” said Dana Burns, a Hammond Central School student and Reality Check member.