News and Events
Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County Partners with Kiwanis for Santa in the Park
December 23, 2025
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County was proud to partner with the Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee for the 48th Annual Santa in the Park, held December 18–23, 2025. This beloved community event brought families together at the Okeechobee town gazebo each evening from 6:00–8:00 p.m. and featured the involvement of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) youth alongside numerous community partners.
SWAT youth played an integral role throughout the event, assisting with crowd control, photo coordination, and communication with families. Serving as both “Santa’s Helpers” and youth advocates, students proudly wore their SWAT shirts, hosted a SWAT information booth with educational materials, and engaged with community leaders and decision-makers about ongoing and upcoming SWAT initiatives in Okeechobee County.
Santa in the Park is traditionally a well-attended event, drawing large crowds of families and children each year. The event is also regularly attended by the Mayor of Okeechobee and other local elected officials, providing a valuable opportunity for the Tobacco Free Partnership’s Program Manager, Tobacco Prevention Specialist, and SWAT youth to promote tobacco-free social norms and engage in meaningful community education.
Many SWAT youth peers attended the event and expressed interest in joining the Okeechobee SWAT Club, helping to expand youth advocacy efforts within the community. Additionally, participating students earned service hours and worked toward credits required for their SWAT graduation honor cord.
SWAT empowers, educates, and equips Florida youth to stand up against Big Tobacco. As a statewide youth movement, SWAT works to de-glamorize tobacco use and make it less desirable, less acceptable, and less accessible. To learn more about SWAT and local youth tobacco prevention efforts, visit www.swatflorida.com.
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is committed to creating tobacco-free social norms through community education, youth advocacy, and local policy change. The Partnership’s mission aligns with the CDC Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, particularly in advancing local policies that support healthier, tobacco-free communities.
The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is facilitated by the QuitDoc Foundation. To learn more about the Partnership or to get involved, visit tfp-okeechobee.org, learn more about QuitDoc at www.quitdoc.com, or contact Tobacco Program Manager Courtney Moyett at cmoyett@quitdoc.com.
