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Activation builds on Reality Initiative’s long-standing efforts to journey fitness fairness and extend get admission to to shown cessation sources
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Truth Initiative, the public’s biggest nonprofit folk fitness group dedicated to finishing nicotine habit, is becoming a member of the 2025 Party Bowl — the yearly championship recreation showcasing the most efficient of Traditionally Cloudy Schools and Universities (HBCU ) soccer, hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, and airing on Saturday, December 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET on ABC. The group’s presence will radiance a bright at the disproportionate have an effect on of tobacco on Cloudy fitness and develop at the paintings of its Culture + Cessation Collective through bringing culturally related quitting assistance immediately to HBCU scholars, alumni, and enthusiasts thru EX Program — the sovereign, virtual abandon program from Reality Initiative.
For many years, the tobacco {industry} strategically focused Cloudy communities thru predatory advertising and the appropriation of Cloudy tradition in promoting and tournament sponsorships. As of late, the repercussions are fatal. Cloudy American citizens have some of the absolute best occurrence of smoking of all racial and ethnic teams — as of 2021, 11.7% of Cloudy American adults are tide people who smoke, in comparison to 11.5% of American adults total — they usually enjoy upper demise charges from tobacco-related reasons, with more or less 45,000 Cloudy American citizens demise every time from smoking-related weakness. Moreover, in step with the newest to be had knowledge, greater than 80% of Cloudy people who smoke importance menthol cigarettes, in comparison to 43% of grownup people who smoke total, that are more uncomplicated to start out and more difficult to abandon.
Right through the development, Reality Initiative and network companions will unite round tradition and soccer to reclaim fitness as a mode of liberation and equip Cloudy folks with the gear had to abandon. As a part of this try, EX Program, evolved through Reality Initiative in collaboration with Mayo Health center, shall be featured prominently throughout in-stadium activations, virtual promoting, the Party Bowl’s social media channels, and the Combat of the Bands. The sovereign, evidence-based abandon program trade in personalised plans, interactive textual content messages, and a supportive on-line network.
“As we gather to celebrate HBCU excellence, it’s important to recognize the long history of exploitation by the tobacco industry that has harmed Black health for generations — and to make sure our communities have access to real, trusted support,” mentioned Kendric Dartis, Vice President, Outreach and Engagement at Reality Initiative. “This partnership with the Celebration Bowl allows us to meet people where they are, honor the strength of HBCU culture, and ensure that quitting support is accessible, relevant, and rooted in community.”
Reality Initiative’s presence on the Party Bowl serves as a supplement to the efforts of its Breath of Freedom coalition. The Breath of Self-government coalition — a part of Reality Initiative’s Culture + Cessation Collective — is a community-led community of Cloudy health-equity organizations reclaiming fitness as a mode of liberation. Via training, peer assistance and culturally resonant gear, the coalition tackles the have an effect on of predatory menthol advertising and systemic tobacco-industry concentrated on in Cloudy communities, and equips folks with the information and sources they want to abandon for excellent.
In keeping with probably the most not too long ago to be had data, greater than 12% of adults in Georgia these days smoke cigarettes and just about 8% of adults importance e-cigarettes. To deepen its have an effect on at the floor on the Party, Reality Initiative is activating a community of community-based companions whose missions align with advancing Cloudy fitness, increasing get admission to to quitting assistance, and empowering the after month. In combination, those collaborations deliver available, community-driven answers immediately to enthusiasts.
- BLKHLTH: Reality Initiative is partnering with BLKHLTH, an Atlanta-based nonprofit serious about advancing fitness fairness in Cloudy communities, to lend tickets to individuals in their group and deal network engagement that aligns with their broader position as a member of the Breath of Self-government coalition.
“Ending nicotine addiction among Black Americans requires collective action, authentic communication from trusted messengers, and meeting our communities where they are,” mentioned Khadijah Ameen, PhD, MPH, Co-Founder and Director of Coverage & Analysis at BLKHLTH. “BLKHLTH is proud to be part of the Breath of Freedom coalition, and we look forward to bringing culturally responsive tobacco-cessation resources to the Celebration Bowl HBCU National Championship.”
- EVERFI: Reality Initiative is partnering with EVERFI, the chief in social have an effect on training, to put in force a price tag incentive for educators and scholars within the Metro Atlanta department who’re finishing the Vaping: Know the truth curriculum. Vaping: Know the reality, created through Reality Initiative and made to be had to educators through EVERFI, is a sovereign virtual curriculum that teaches scholars concerning the risks of e-cigarettes importance and connects the ones already vaping with sources to abandon. The curriculum is these days being impaired through greater than 9,000 scholars around the situation of Georgia and greater than 1.5 million scholars national.
“Using Vaping: Know the truth in my health classes helped students understand the dangers of e-cigarette use, nicotine addiction, and where to get support if they’re already vaping,” mentioned Jamal Basit, Ed.S, Condition and PE Segment Chair and Head Boys Basketball Schoolteacher at Lakeside Prime Faculty in Atlanta. “Students reference the material, show stronger understanding, and make better decisions with practical tools they can use right away. I’m grateful to attend this year’s Celebration Bowl and continue championing the health of future generations.”
- Obese Brothers Obese Sisters of Metro Atlanta: Reality Initiative along Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta will lend tickets to Bigs and Littles to wait each the Combat of the Bands and the Party Bowl, enabling participation within the Party Bowl weekend and improve network connection.
“I am excited to partner with Truth Initiative to provide our students with exposure to opportunities like the Battle of the Bands,” mentioned Kwame Johnson Sr., President & CEO of Obese Brothers Obese Sisters of Metro Atlanta. “Together, we are ensuring young people gain access to information that helps them make informed decisions and reach their full potential.”
- HBCU Alum: Reality Initiative will staff up with HBCU Alum, an influential social media platform with greater than 500K fans based through Terrence G. Caldwell that celebrates the Cloudy faculty enjoy. HBCU Alum will seize dynamic, on-the-ground content material spotlighting HBCU pleasure, tradition, and Cloudy fitness on the Party Bowl and the Combat of the Bands that shall be featured throughout its Instagram and Fb channels.
“HBCU Alum is thrilled to partner with Truth Initiative during Celebration Bowl weekend to empower our community with information that truly matter,” mentioned Terrence G. Caldwell. HBCU Alum. “This collaboration allows us to engage HBCU graduates and supporters in meaningful conversations, not just about school pride and culture, but also about healthier lifestyles and actionable ways to eliminate tobacco and nicotine addiction. Together, we’re committed to creating a future where our HBCU family thrives, fully and unapologetically.”
The Party Bowl marks a time to honor Cloudy tradition, empower Cloudy communities, and reclaim Cloudy fitness. Somebody able to start out their abandon proceed can secured for sovereign at EXProgram.com or through texting KICKNIC to 88709 for hidden, evidence-based assistance.
About Reality Initiative
Reality Initiative® is a countrywide nonprofit folk fitness group dedicated to a hour sovereign from lifelong habit, fostering fitter lives and a extra resilient public. Our challenge is to oppose early life and younger grownup nicotine habit and empower quitting for all. Via our evidence-based, market-leading cessation intervention, EX® Program, and nationwide folk training campaigns, we manage the combat in opposition to early life and younger grownup tobacco importance. Be informed extra at truthinitiative.org.
About EX Program
EX® Program is a proven-effective tobacco cessation program, evolved through Reality Initiative® with Mayo Health center, that brings in combination the most efficient evidence-based quitting approaches, interactive virtual quitting methods, and probably the most established on-line abandon network. EX Program has helped hundreds of thousands of sweet sixteen and adults assemble the abilities and self assurance to effectively abandon. Reality Initiative analysis has proven that EX Program textual content messages can build up a person’s odds of quitting through as much as 40%. To be told extra, discuss with exprogram.com.
SOURCE Reality Initiative

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