CareFirst Hosts Nonprofit Showcase to Celebrate Community Health Organizations Strengthening Equity and Opportunity in the District
WASHINGTON— CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country's largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, hosted a showcase and reception celebrating its philanthropic community partners on Sept. 16.
The event, held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, featured 21 local nonprofit organizations that are strengthening the District’s safety net and advancing health equity. The organizations represent a portion of CareFirst’s more than 300 grantee partners across the region.
The evening program included remarks from Kimberly A. Bassett, Secretary of the District of Columbia; Dr. Bryan O. Buckley, Head of Public Health at CareFirst; Kimberly Y. Robinson, Vice President of State Government Affairs at CareFirst; and Rahsaan Bernard, Strategic Advisor and former President & CEO of Building Bridges Across the River, one of the grantees.
Through its community investments, CareFirst supports projects that address social and structural drivers of health—from housing and education to nutrition and employment—while fostering economic mobility and modeling long-term solutions.
“Advancing health equity requires strong public-private partnerships,” said Dr. Buckley. “Challenges like food insecurity, housing instability or gaps in healthcare cannot be solved by any one sector alone. By working alongside government partners and our exceptional grantees, we are delivering solutions that improve lives today and build the foundation for a healthier future.”
The grantee showcase underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods across the District. Interactive exhibits gave attendees a firsthand look at the innovative strategies these community organizations are using to expand opportunity and improve community health outcomes in D.C.
This initiative highlights the transformative impact of collaboration and innovation in advancing health equity across the District, underscoring the vital role of public-private partnerships in building healthier, more resilient communities citywide.
CareFirst remains committed to investing in critical areas such as housing, education, nutrition, employment and more—factors that directly influence health and well-being of the communities it serves. To learn more about CareFirst’s commitment to the community, visit CareFirst.com/Transformation.
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 88th 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 in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2024, CareFirst infused over $403 million to support regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit CareFirst.com/Transformation.