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Schools earn cash prizes for supporting locally grown apples

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Holly Whetstone  
(800) 456-2753

(DeWitt, Mich.) – Michigan Apple Committee (MAC) will reward eight Michigan schools with more than $20,000 in cash prizes for their efforts to help instill healthy eating habits in students while supporting local apple growers.

The 3rd Annual Michigan Apple School Sweepstakes, sponsored by MAC, was open to accredited K-12 schools.  To participate, students clipped and saved the Michigan Apples logo off the apple bag.  Each logo counted as an entry, with the winning schools selected in a computerized drawing.

This year's winners are:

1st Place (Recipients of $5,000 each):

  • Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Grand Rapids
  • Donley Elementary School in East Lansing

2nd Place (Recipients of $3,000 each):

  • Otsego Baptist Academy in Otsego
  • Sister Lakes Elementary School in Dowagiac

3rd Place (Recipients of $1,000 each):

  • Walker Station Elementary School in Grand Rapids
  • Countryside Academy in Benton Harbor

 Honorable Mention (Recipients of $800 each):

  • Legacy Christian School in Grand Rapids
  • Saints Peter and Paul School in Grand Rapids

According to MAC Executive Director Denise Donohue, the school sweepstakes continues to grow with nearly 6,000 Michigan Apple proofs of purchase submitted in this year's contest.

“We are thrilled to see so much support for Michigan Apple growers, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Donohue.  “These schools have certainly earned an A+ in our books!”

A representative from MAC will be presenting the winning schools with the prize money on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19. 

MAC plans to offer the sweepstakes program again next year.  For details, visit MichiganApples.com this fall.  A new essay contest for elementary students is also in the planning stages with kickoff expected in September. 

Schools participating in the school sweepstakes can begin collecting proofs once school resumes and continuing through the spring.  Deadline for entries is April 15, 2010, with the drawing on May 1.

Winning schools can use the money as they deem appropriate.  Some of the past winners have chosen to update playground equipment, purchase books and make technology improvements.

MAC is a grower-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world.