Pistons to Host ‘Every Try Counts’ Free-Throw Promotion Throughout Season to Support Anti-Smoking Program
DETROIT, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons have partnered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create the “Every Try Counts” Free-Throw Promotion in support of the agency’s “Every Try Counts” campaign. The campaign’s main objective is to underscore the health benefits of quitting and drive an increase in motivation to quit among adult cigarette smokers, who have made unsuccessful attempts to quit in the past. “Every Try Counts” celebrates each quit attempt and reframes past attempts not as failures, but as small steps toward success. The Pistons will donate $5 to Henry Ford Tobacco Treatment Service for every free-throw attempt by the team this season, with a total donation of up to $15K.
“There are approximately 34 million adult cigarette smokers in the U.S., and more than two out of three say they want to quit. Despite this desire to quit, many quit attempts are unsuccessful. Research shows that many smokers do not quit on their first attempt and need several tries before they succeed. ’Every Try Counts’ aims to inform smokers of the health benefits of quitting and help them build the confidence and belief that they are ready to try quitting again in the near-term,” said Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “We are excited to have the Pistons join in the effort to help adult smokers quit and stay tobacco free.”
In conjunction with the “Every Try Counts” campaign, the Pistons will help promote and support smoking cessation in a variety of ways. The club will display pre-game, in-arena graphics and social media messaging, PSA messages and player support videos, and execute an “Every Try Counts” mobile game and enter-to-win contest on the Pistons Mobile App. Other activations include in-arena video clusters of the campaign throughout the concourse and a Court of Dreams experience including participants who have completed Henry Ford Health System’s smoking cessation program.
Visit FDA’s website to learn more about the “Every Try Counts” campaign and to view the campaign overview, research and evaluation information, and sample ads.
About the Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. With over 2,500 regular-season and playoff victories, the club has celebrated three NBA Championships (1989, 1990, 2004), five NBA Finals appearances (1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005) and 11 Eastern Conference Finals appearances. For in-depth analysis by website editor Keith Langlois and special inside-access videos, visit www.pistons.com, the official source for news and features on the Detroit Pistons.
About the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
