Quit Week 2010
Quit Week 2010 was Nov. 9 – 17 and included a number of events to raise awareness about the importance of smoking cessation and highlight local resources available to help people who are ready to quit smoking. Mayor Daley began the week with an official proclamation, citing the heavy toll of tobacco-related deaths in Chicago, and the city’s resolve to reduce smoking rates and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke through the Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project during the next two years.
Chicago renters willing to pay more for smoke-free housing
Joel Africk, president and CEO of Respiratory Health Association, was interviewed on WCIU's "You and Me This Morning" to launch Quit Week and provide smoking cessation tips.
Johnny Knox urges youth to stay tobacco-free
Seventh grader Cyerra Mitchell at Doolittle Elementary school won our essay contest explaining why she was committed to living tobacco-free. Johnny Knox visited the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes at Doolittle to encourage the students to commit to a tobacco-free lifestyle, and Hip-Hop Detoxx entertained and educated each class about making good choices in regards to tobacco and other health issues. NBC featured a slideshow of event photos on their website.
“QUIT” message kick-off
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois building drew their shades to spell “QUIT” across the building to amplify our message at the start of Quit Week.
Quit tips in Sun-Times
Simple tips for smoking cessation were available in the Chicago Sun-Times. View a full list of quit tips and more information on our Quit Smoking pages.
Media roadblock: Not One More Cigarette
On November 10, Chicago viewers saw and heard the spots "Not One More Cigarette" TV and radio spots were on every major TV station between 7 and 7:15 a.m., and on every major radio station between 8 and 8:15 a.m. Our other PSAs were also prominent throughout the week.
New graphic cigarette labels proposed
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new, full color, graphic labels to be put on all cigarette packaging. Joel Africk was interviewed on the CBS evening news to discuss the impacts of the labels.
Bringing our message to Bears fans
Respiratory Health Association volunteers offered free lung health testing and quit smoking resources to thousands of fans at the Bears versus Vikings game on November 14. Kevin Butler, kicker for the 1985 Bears, also came out to support and sign autographs at the booth. In all, we reached more than 65,000 people with with the support of our volunteers, some pre-game coverage on WBBM and the LED signs throughout Soldier Field.
Good Day Chicago highlight Quit Week successes
Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health Bechara Choucair, MD, and Joel Africk appeared on Fox's "Good Day Chicago" to talk about the successes of Quit Week, including a poll indicating that nearly one third of apartment renters in Chicago say they would be willing to pay more to live in smoke-free homes.
Quit-a-thon
CBS dedicated the commercial time between their 5 and 6 p.m. news hours to our Quit-a-thon. Volunteers from Chicago Department of Public Health and Respiratory Health Association joined the CBS 2 morning news team and B96 morning hosts J & Julian to answer more than 100 calls in just two hours!
Letter to Chicago
An open letter from Dr. Bechara Choucair and Joel Africk ran in the Chicago Sun-Times. The letter recapped Quit Week and offered suggestions about next steps to making a healthier, smoke-free Chicago.
