Award-winning Campaign that Champions for a Healthier, Nicotine-free Iowa

The Cold Turkey Challenge is a nicotine cessation initiative meant to unify Iowa’s rural communities to breathe in a renewed, smoke-free focus on the health and well-being of its citizens to build a stronger Iowa.

The Reichardt Family Foundation in conjunction with Above + Beyond Cancer wanted to create a nicotine-cessation contest for Iowa small towns with populations under 5,000. This challenge aimed to help nicotine users in Iowa rural communities feel supported, encouraged, educated while helping their community thrive as the winning community would receive $50,000 for designated community improvement projects.

Our team created a brand identity, health and wellness resources, campaign materials, and tools to help communities promote and manage the campaign. Alongside those initiatives, we launched a social media campaign. Engaging legislators, media, and residents was an important way to educate our State.

We’re proud to report 100% of participating smokers successfully quit during the campaign.

Mount Vernon, Iowa is breathing in the fresh rewards of their successful “quitter!” Their town was the recipient of the $50,000 check presented by the Governor of the State of Iowa at a celebration at the State’s capitol.

Fajen Consulting was awarded the 2021 Best Small Budget Marketing Campaign award for work on this project by the American Marketing Association of Iowa.