CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Commits $7.1 Million to Address Diabetes Through 31 Community Organizations
Major investment expands access to nutritious food and health education to address food-related chronic conditions throughout D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia
Baltimore and Washington — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country's largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, is investing $7.1 million in 31 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 identified as Healthy Food Priority Areas, with a high prevalence of diabetes, the multi-year grants will focus on improving access to healthy, affordable food and promoting well-being in our communities.
“Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, disproportionately affecting underserved communities in our region, so we must address it together,” said Lester Davis, Vice President and Chief of Staff, 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, affordable 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 significant public health issue that affects overall wellness. In Washington, D.C., one in eight residents lack reliable access to nutritious food, and in Wards 7 and 8, one in five 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 efforts, 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)
- 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.)
- MedStar Institute for Innovation: Culinary Medicine and Nutrition Learning (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.carefirst.com/transformation.
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 87th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2023, CareFirst infused $233 million in support of regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit www.carefirst.com.