TSET Board Awards $86,000 to Schools Across Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 24, 2023) - The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) Board of Directors awarded $86,000 to school districts and school sites across Oklahoma through the TSET Healthy Incentive Grant Program at their board meeting on Thursday, March 23.

“These incentive grants recognize the efforts of school districts and school sites that are actively promoting healthy lifestyles,” said TSET executive director Julie Bisbee. “Studies show that active, healthy kids perform better in school, and we want to recognize schools that are making it easier for students, staff and the community to make healthier choices.”

The Healthy Incentive Grant Program focuses on strengthening policies and practices to improve school nutrition, increase physical activity, improve student wellbeing and provide tobacco-free environments for students, staff and faculty. These health-promoting practices and policies are based on national best practices and recommendations from experts.

Once school districts have passed the recommended policies, they are eligible to apply for a grant for the district. Individual school sites are also eligible to apply if district policies are met. Grant funds are used for health-related projects chosen at the local level. Grant funds have been used for a variety of projects, including playgrounds, new cafeteria equipment, hydration stations and curriculum. Incentive grant amounts vary based on enrollment and the types of strategies implemented.

TSET Healthy Incentive Grants for school districts and sites approved Thursday were:

TSET offers a similar program for communities. For more information about TSET Healthy Incentive Grants visit https://oklahoma.gov/tset/tset-programs/incentive-grants.html or contact Laura Matlock, program officer, at lauram@tset.ok.gov or by calling 405-764-4668.

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The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.