CareFirst commits $7.1M to community organizations to address diabetes

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CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the country’s largest health care organizations, is investing $7.1 million in 30 community-based organizations in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia to combat diabetes.

The investment is part of CareFirst’s Place-Based Grants Initiative and 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 multiyear grants will focus on improving access to healthy, affordable food and promoting well-being in our communities.

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 nutritiousfood 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.

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.)
• 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)