Brighter Bites Announces Partnership in Carefirst’s Place-Based Initiative
August 4, 2025 | 7 min to read
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With a grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Brighter Bites is partnering with the Institute for Public Health Innovation, the Prince George's County Food Equity Council, and Georgetown University to combat diabetes and chronic diseases in local schools. This initiative includes bi-weekly fresh produce distributions and nutrition education at six elementary schools, aiming to foster long-term health equity and empower families in Prince George’s County over the next three school years.
Grants Fuels Collaborative Effort to Reduce Chronic Disease in Prince George’s County Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant through CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s (CareFirst) Place-Based Grants Initiative. As a recipient of CareFirst’s Place-Based Grants Initiative, Brighter Bites and its partners, the Institute for Public Health Innovation, the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council, and Georgetown University, will collaborate to address diabetes and diet-related chronic conditions for sustainable improvements in community health.
This initiative is a part of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s (CareFirst) recent investment of $7.1 million in 31 community-based organizations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
As the 2025-26 school year begins, Brighter Bites and The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council will work together to enhance our produce distribution and nutrition education programming, distributing fresh produce bi-weekly on school campuses, offering culturally tailored and community driven recipe demonstrations, and providing systems navigation support to assist families in identifying and enrolling in other community services.
This collaborative approach to improving community health will take place on six elementary school campuses in Prince George’s County, MD over the next three school years:
• James Harrison Elementary (South Laurel)
• Highbridge Elementary (Bowie)
• Scotchtown Hills Elementary (Landover area)
• District Heights Elementary
• Hillcrest Hills Elementary
• John Bayne Elementary (Capitol Heights)
“This grant enables us to deepen our impact in Prince George’s County and work alongside trusted local partners to create long-term health equity,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to community-driven health solutions and marks a strategic investment in reducing chronic disease at the local level. “Together, we are empowering families with the tools, knowledge, and access they need to lead healthier lives.”
By building existing community assets and trusted relationships within schools, the program aims to deliver measurable outcomes and lasting change over the next three school years.
For more information about the Brighter Bites Washington, D.C. metro area program, visit www.brighterbites.org/location/washingtondc.
ABOUT BRIGHTER BITES
Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 75 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than one million individuals (including teachers) in Austin, Bakersfield, Dallas, Greater Philadelphia, Houston, Las Cruces, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York City, Salinas, San Antonio, Southwest Florida, and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.
For more information, visit www.brighterbites.org. Follow Brighter Bites on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube.
ABOUT PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FOOD EQUITY COUNCIL (FEC)
FEC is a local food policy council that works to help Prince George’s County residents grow, sell, and choose healthy foods. Since 2013, FEC has been a voice for county residents at the policymaking table. The team works with county leaders to find permanent solutions to improve our food system. They focus on systematic and sustainable changes to Prince George’s public health challenges (e.g., hunger, obesity, and food deserts that lack healthy food options) by advocating for policy that creates a more equitable local food system. The FEC is incubated within the Institute for Public Health Innovation. For more information on FEC, visit www.pgcfec.org and follow FEC on Facebook @pgcfec and on Instagram @pgcfoodequitycouncil.
ABOUT INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION
The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. IPHI’s work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities. This non-profit is one of over 50 public health institutes across the country and is a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes. For more information, visit www.institutephi.org. Follow IPHI on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @InstitutePHI.
ABOUT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, offering a unique educational experience that prepares the next generation of global citizens to lead and make a difference in the world. We are a vibrant community of exceptional students, faculty, alumni, and professionals dedicated to real-world applications of our research, scholarship, faith and service. For more information, visit www.georgetown.edu. Follow IPHI on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @georgetownuniv.