At the Celebration Bowl, Truth Initiative Brings Quit Support to Fans and Shines a Light on Tobacco’s Toll

Truth Initiative brings hands-on quit support to a major HBCU football showcase

Truth Initiative is teaming up with the Celebration Bowl to put tobacco education and quitting help where fans already gather. Over the course of the event, the public-health group will run on-site activities, share targeted messages in the stadium and online, and make it simple for people to find quit resources. The move aims to reach Black communities that experience higher rates of tobacco-related harm, and it uses a high-profile sports weekend to turn attention into practical help.

What fans will see and how the partnership will work at the game

At the stadium, Truth Initiative will set up staffed booths and kiosks where fans can get free materials, speak with trained volunteers, and sign up for text-based quit programs. Activations are designed to be low-pressure and approachable: expect short, friendly conversations, simple printed takeaways, and QR codes that take people directly to proven stop-smoking tools on their phones.

Beyond physical booths, the group will use in-venue screens, PA announcements, and programs to highlight the messages. Digital components include social posts and targeted ads around the game that point viewers to the same quit resources. Organizers plan timed pushes — for example, halftime reminders and post-game follow-ups — to give people repeated chances to act.

The partnership also involves outreach to alumni groups, marching bands and student organizations. These networks will be offered ready-made messages and materials they can share in their own channels before and after the game. For people who want more help, Truth Initiative’s staff will help connect them to local services and community clinics, and will promote free phone and text quitlines that work nationwide.

Why this focus matters: tobacco’s unequal toll and Truth Initiative’s track record

Public-health groups have long warned that tobacco does more harm in some communities than in others. Black Americans, in particular, shoulder a heavier burden from certain tobacco products and targeted marketing. That includes higher exposure to menthol cigarettes, which many public-health experts say make quitting harder, and more advertising in certain neighborhoods.

Truth Initiative is a national nonprofit with a history of running public education and quit programs. It builds campaigns designed to change social norms and offers direct services people can use right away, like text-message quitting plans that send daily tips and encouragement. The group has worked with schools, community organizations and major cultural events before, aiming to meet people where they are rather than expecting them to seek help on their own.

At events like the Celebration Bowl, public-health teams get two advantages. First, they can reach a large number of people gathered in one place. Second, they can link the health message to everyday life — showing that quitting isn’t a remote medical task but a practical, supported step many people can start immediately. That approach matters because quitting often requires repeated prompts and easy access to help.

Community reach and partners that could amplify impact

The Celebration Bowl draws fans, alumni and families from colleges across the country, giving the campaign a broad stage. Organizers say the partnership will tap into event partners and local health groups to extend reach beyond the stadium. That means messages can travel through school newsletters, alumni social feeds and community clinics in cities where fans live.

Past health activations at major events suggest this kind of visibility can move the needle on awareness. The real test is whether people follow up after the game — signing up for a quit program, talking with a clinician, or using nicotine-replacement tools. By offering immediate sign-ups and digital follow-ups, Truth Initiative is betting it can turn a single-day moment into longer-term action.

How fans and community groups can access quit help and get involved

If you plan to attend the bowl, look for the Truth Initiative booths and staff inside and around the venue. You can sign up on the spot for a text-based quit plan, pick up printed resources, or ask to be connected with local services. Community groups interested in amplifying the message can request materials and shareable social content from Truth Initiative ahead of the game.

This partnership is meant to inform and support people who want to stop using tobacco. The information and resources offered are general public-health guidance and not individualized medical advice. People with specific health concerns should consult a healthcare professional about the best quitting strategy for them.

Sources

• prnewswire.com