VIENNA, VA - Would you believe that supporting a school cause is as easy as taking a bite out of your favorite apple?

With the U.S. Apple Association’s (USApple) “Buy an Apple, Help a Student,” fundraising program, it is. Featuring the U.S. apple industry and your favorite brands working together, the program provides financial support to student projects nationwide every time a person shares a photo of an apple or related product. 

“We love the time-honored connection between apples and education and wanted to bring it to life with a fun program that lets people turn their daily apple into direct support for important classroom projects nationwide,” said Wendy Brannen, Director, Consumer Health and Public Relations, USApple. “With Buy an Apple, Help a Student, enjoying an apple or delicious pairing from our Apple Buddies can go a long way in supporting healthy bodies and minds.”

You can learn more about the program in USApple's video below.

Now through Nov. 15, consumers can visit Apples4Ed.com and read profiles of 11 student causes in need of funding, ranging from new school gardens and improved libraries to updated technology, revitalized playgrounds and, enhanced resources for teachers. According to a press release, supporting these causes takes four simple, delicious and healthy steps:

1. Snack: Grab an apple, apple juice, applesauce and/or delicious products made by program partners (or “Apple Buddies”) Marzetti, KIND Snacks, Roth Cheese, and Johnsonville Sausage. 
2. Snap: Take a picture enjoying (selfies preferred, not required).
3. Tag: Find a school cause at Apples4Ed.com. Tag your photo with the project’s name and the hashtag #Apples4Ed.  
4. Share: Vote for your fave school cause by uploading your photo to Apples4Ed.com or sharing on Instagram.

For every vote, USApple and Apple Buddies will pledge financial contributions to nominated projects to help them reach their goals. The press release also explains that individuals will be able to vote as often as they can. Every picture individuals upload enjoying apples and apple pairings using Apple Buddy products counts as a vote.

As the program collects photos and tallies votes through mid-November, USApple and Apple Buddies will continue to encourage participation with weekly drawings, where participants can win Apple® gift cards and have money donated directly to their selected project. 

In addition, individuals who visit www.Apples4Ed.com will find helpful facts about apples’ many health benefits, as well as a variety of original recipes created by Top Chef fan favorite Chef Dave Martin. The recipes pair apples with products and ingredients from Marzetti, KIND Snacks, Roth Cheese, and Johnsonville Sausage.

And keep watching for the big reveal in December, when USApple and partners will announce the cause with the most votes which will receive the highest donation. No matter who wins, however, every classroom featured on the site will receive funds.

U.S. Apple Association