Baltimore and Washington — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country’s largest not-for-prot
healthcare organizations, is investing $7.1 million in 30 community-based organizations in Washington, D.C., Maryland and
Northern Virginia to combat diabetes.
The investment, part of CareFirst’s Place-Based Grants Initiative, will support community and health collaboratives to address
diabetes and diet-related chronic conditions for sustainable improvements in community health. Targeting priority areas
identied as Healthy Food Priority Areas, with a high prevalence of diabetes, the multi-year grants will focus on improving
access to healthy, aordable food and promoting well-being in our communities.
“Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, disproportionately aecting underserved
communities in our region, so we must address it together,” said Lester Davis, Vice President and Chief of Sta, who leads
CareFirst’s community and public health initiatives. “Food security and nutrition education play a critical role in preventing
and managing diabetes. This is why CareFirst is investing in local programs that directly address these issues to ensure
communities have access to the resources they need to lead healthier lives.”
CareFirst projects the grants will impact 1.5 million residents across the region. The funded programs focus on three key
areas:
Expanding local food systems to increase access to healthy, aordable food options in Healthy Food Priority Areas;
Implementing food-is-medicine programs, including produce prescription programs to support chronic disease
management; and Providing food literacy, nutrition education, and healthy meal preparation training.
“CareFirst’s commitment to place-based solutions aims to create lasting health improvements through access to nutritious
food and education,” said Kimberly Harris, Director of Community Health and Social Impact at CareFirst and 2024-25 Chair
for the American Diabetes Association’s State of Diabetes. “Addressing the root causes of diabetes requires a comprehensive
approach that extends beyond clinical care to tackle the underlying social drivers of health. Our investment shifts the focus
from treatment to prevention, ensuring everyone – regardless of zip code – has access to fresh, healthy food and essential
health resources.”
Food insecurity is a signicant public health issue that aects overall wellness. In Washington, D.C., one in eight residents lack
reliable access to nutritious food, and in Wards 7 and 8, one in ve children has limited access to grocery stores. One in nine
Marylanders, including one in seven children, faces food insecurity. In Northern Virginia, one in four people experiences food
insecurity. To alleviate the burden of food insecurity, and the impact it has on overall wellness, it is essential to drive
investments to generate access to high-quality nutritious food and resources across our region.
CareFirst engages with local communities to understand their most pressing needs, using that feedback to guide its
investments. Over the past few years, CareFirst has dedicated $1.7 million to local health improvement coalitions and
community-based organizations addressing the factors that contribute to the severity and likelihood of developing diabetes.
This latest $7.1 million investment builds on those eorts, further advancing health equity, nutritional security while
enhancing access to quality care across the region.
The grant recipients include:
American Diabetes Association (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia)
Give Feedback
American University (Washington, D.C., Maryland)
Bailey’s Crossroads Health Access Partnership, Inc. (Northern Virginia)
BIT Community Center Inc. (Baltimore City, MD)
Blossom Education Solutions Inc. (Washington, D.C.)
Bread for the City (Washington, D.C.)
Brighter Bites (Prince George’s County, MD)
Building Bridges Across the River (Washington, D.C.)
Carroll County Health Department (Carroll County, MD)
County United Way, Inc. (Western Maryland)
DC Central Kitchen, Inc. (Washington, D.C.)
Dreaming Out Loud Inc. (Washington, D.C.)
Engage with Heart (Baltimore City, MD)
Food Research & Action Center DBA Maryland Hunger (Eastern Shore, Prince George’s County, Western MD)
FreshFarm* (Washington, D.C.)
Future Harvest Inc. (Eastern Shore, Prince George’s County, Western MD)
Garrett County Health Department* (Garrett County, MD)
Holy Cross Hospital (Montgomery County, Prince George’s County)
Howard County Health Department* (Howard County, MD)
Institute for Public Health Innovation* (Prince George’s County, MD)
MAC Inc. (Eastern Shore)
Martha’s Table (Washington, D.C.)
Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm (Baltimore City, MD)
So What Else, Inc. (Baltimore City, Frederick County, Prince George’s County)
SONS of Phoenix (Baltimore City, MD)
UEmpower of Maryland (Baltimore City, MD)
Union Memorial Hospital (Baltimore City, MD)
United Community Ministries Inc. (Northern Virginia)
Worcester County Health Department* (Worcester County, MD)
YMCA of Central MD (Baltimore City, MD)
To learn more about how CareFirst is transforming healthcare, visit www.carerst.com/transformation.
