COLUMBUS, Ohio – In every corner of Ohio, students are setting goals, building healthy habits and discovering what they can accomplish. Now, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel is calling on Ohio’s business community to join the team and support students across the state.

Tressel is encouraging businesses and community organizations to support the more than 655,000 students participating in the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge by connecting with local schools and providing incentives that recognize effort, celebrate progress and motivate students to reach their full potential, a news release states.

“Ohio businesses can make a meaningful difference in their local schools by joining the team and giving students one more reason to keep working toward their goals,” Tressel said. “When a community rallies around its young people, it sends a powerful message that their health, growth and future matter.”

Businesses can find the list of participating schools in their area at TeamTressel.Ohio.gov and should contact them directly to explore how best to support their students. Schools are encouraged to identify incentives that align with their policies and meet the needs of their students, the release states.

Examples of support include:

  • Coupons or gift cards for healthy meals, activities or local experiences.
  • Tickets or admission to sporting events, museums, parks and other attractions.
  • Fitness-related items such as water bottles, jump ropes, exercise bands or sports equipment.
  • Recognition for students who achieve bronze, silver or gold medals in the challenge.
  • Rewards for classrooms or schools that reach participation milestones.

Businesses interested in making a larger investment in the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge can also support students across a region or throughout Ohio. To explore regional or statewide partnership opportunities, email Haylee.Dunahay@governor.ohio.gov. 

Nearly 2,200 schools across all 88 Ohio counties are participating in the fall 2026 challenge, which runs through Dec. 4. The program has grown from 183,000 students during its first round in 2025 to more than 655,000 students this fall.

“The habits Ohio students build today – including showing up, setting goals and pushing through when it’s hard – are the same ones employers look for tomorrow,” said Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge is building more than healthy kids – it’s building Ohio’s future workforce. The Ohio Chamber proudly supports Team Tressel, and we encourage employers of every size, and our partners at local chambers across the state, to find a school in their community and get in the game.”

Pictured at top: Students at Crooksville Elementary School do jumping jacks during a Team Tressel Fitness Challenge assembly.