Apples have a lot of meaning attached to them. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. The “apple of my eye” denotes romance. And an apple for the teacher might just keep a grade at a D rather than sliding to an F. Not to mention apple pie.

Knowing the popularity and health benefits of apples, healthcare marketing firm Dobies Healthcare Group has partnered with Natural Grocers to launch an “Apple a Day” program to inspire healthy eating choices and to tackle childhood obesity. The program aligns with the firm’s social purpose and is part of its Give-Join-Care initiative. The program allows corporate sponsors to choose a school and provide fresh, organic apples (GIVE), offer nutrition education with a nutritional health coach (JOIN) and provide healthy eating guides students can share with their families (CARE).

Natural Grocers was the first sponsor of the “Apple a Day” program to help promote health to 400 Kansas City high school students at Cristo Rey Health and Safety Day. The school’s program is a full day of interactive education on health, fitness and wellness

Dobies, a healthcare marketing firm, and Natural Grocers gave each student an apple and a set of flyers with nutritional information as they arrived at the event. The flyers were in both Spanish and English. Natural Grocers provided a health presentation.

Carol Dobies is CEO and founder of Dobies Healthcare Group, a 25 Under 25 Class of 2016 alumni. “Our vision for the Apple a Day program is to put an apple in the hands of every child, one small but powerful step toward inspiring a lifetime of health,” she said.