TSET 25th Anniversary Report Available

See what 25 years of impact looks like in the newly released FY25 Annual Report from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

This milestone edition highlights progress in tobacco prevention, nutrition and physical activity initiatives statewide. In FY25 alone, nearly 30,000 Oklahomans registered for Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline services, with nearly half reporting they successfully quit seven months later. Adult smoking rates have dropped by more than half since 2001, and youth smoking and vaping rates continue to decline.

The report also spotlights strong youth engagement, with 20,000 teens participating in Swap Up Day events, and expanded access to crucial health care with the OU Health Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Bus. Since its inception, TSET-supported initiatives have funded 126 physicians in rural and underserved populations and helped leverage more than $855 million in additional research funding for Oklahoma.

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TSET Grants to Expand Access to Healthy Food and Active Spaces

Nearly $2 million in new grants will help strengthen schools, parks and community spaces across Oklahoma.

At its February meeting, the TSET Board of Directors approved $1.77 million through Built Environment Grants and Healthy Incentive Grants for Communities. These investments support local projects that expand access to healthy food and safe places to be physically active.

The TSET Built Environment Grants will provide $1.5 million over two years to Calera Public School District; Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center in Cushing; Earlsboro Public Schools; First Americans Museum Foundation in Oklahoma City; Tahlequah High School; and Washington Public Schools. Projects range from cafeteria upgrades and improved food storage to farmers markets and other efforts that increase access to nutritious options.

An additional $270,982 in TSET Healthy Incentive Grants will support community improvements in Chickasha, Kremlin, Luther and Marble City, including playgrounds, park enhancements and safer walking areas.

TSET grants are funded through earnings from the voter-created endowment that preserves 75% of Oklahoma’s tobacco Master Settlement Agreement payments for health. These grants focus on practical, long-term improvements that help make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Perspective: Julie Bisbee in the Journal Record