U.S. Apple Association Seeks Nominations for Annual "Apples for Education: Buy an Apple, Help a Student" Program to Fund School Projects

Vienna, Va.— Know a student program in need of extra funds this fall? Maybe a school needs money for a nutrition program or musical instruments, art classes or school garden supplies? Starting today, the U.S. Apple Association (USApple) – which represents the U.S. apple industry from apple growers to juice makers – wants to hear from you as it seeks nominations for the second annual Apples for Education: Buy and Apple, Help a Student cause program pledging school financial support one apple bite at a time.

Through Sept. 9, educators, parents and people everywhere are encouraged to visit apples4ed.com/classroom-cause-entry-form/ to enter and share an important student cause in their community in need of financial support. USApple will then select finalists eligible for funds this fall.

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 12, USApple and its Apple Buddies (supporting brands) will call on people to vote for the school cause of their choice every time they:

  • Snack on an apple, applesauce, apple juice or an Apple Buddy’s product
  • Snap a picture eating their snack
  • Tag their selected school and #Apples4Ed
  • Share on Instagram or Twitter

The school with the most tags – or votes – will receive the most funding, with additional funds awarded to other top-participating schools.

Last year’s inaugural campaign received more than 20,000 votes and provided $21,000 to 12 student causes ranging from school gardens and playground makeovers to robotics and reading education initiatives—from small towns to large cities, coast to coast from Washington to Georgia.

“We felt this program truly made a difference in kids’ lives last year. Not only were they eating more apples and establishing healthy nutrition habits at a young age, but also they received benefits through these vital school programs,” said Wendy Brannen, Director, Consumer Health and Public Relations, USApple. “Whether our money helped sharpen their early reading skills or developed a program where their parents learned to cook with fruits and vegetables, every cause was worthwhile and made our industry eager to fund this program again in fall 2016.”

Brannen encourages people to submit nominations and get involved to help students in their local communities.

Featured

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.