Sherwood Forest Elementary received a check for $4,500 from the U.S. Apple Association for its participation in “Apples for Education: Buy an Apple, Help a Student” program.

To kick off National Apple Month, U.S. Apple Association hosted its second annual Apples for Education fundraising campaign. In six weeks, more than 6,500 votes were cast and with each vote, USApple and the apple industry pledged funds to the nominated causes. Sherwood Forest Elementary was one of the top five participants in this year’s program.

Throughout this school year, P.E. specialist Ryan Westhoff has worked hard with the school community to promote the campaign and encouraging student scholars to eat apples as snacks.

Thanks to previously awarded grants and community donations, boxes of apples are available in the school office every Friday. The newly awarded funds will allow Westhoff to purchase more apples and expand the program, so apples will now be available each week on Monday and Wednesday in addition to Friday.

When discussing the opportunity to continue providing apples to Sherwood Forest scholars, Principal Alisa DeSart expressed gratitude for the funds.

“This program has been more successful than we imagined, and we’re looking forward to providing even more apples moving forward,” she said. “I’ve never seen so many student scholars excited to eat apples.”

U.S. Apple Association is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 40 state and regional associations representing the 7,500 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 400 individual firms involved in the apple business.