Our Team

The people behind every bag.

Founders

Lisa Helfman

Founder & Board Chair

Lisa Helfman is the founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. In the fall of 2011,…

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Co-Founder

Dr. Shreela Sharma is co-founder of Brighter Bites. Dr. Sharma is responsible for operationalizing the Brighter…

National Team

Christina Maynor

Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support

Christina Maynor is the Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support for Brighter Bites. She received…

Rich Dachman

Chief Executive Officer

Rich Dachman is the Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. Rich comes to Brighter Bites with…

Mike Pomeroy, MPH

Vice President of Programs

Mike serves as Vice President of Programs of Brighter Bites, overseeing programmatic aspects of Brighter Bites,…

Houston
Dallas
Austin
NYC
Washington, D.C.
Southwest Florida

Michael Carpenter

Program Supervisor

Michael Carpenter is a Program Supervisor for Brighter Bites in Houston. Michael began his tenure with…

Katie Degen

Senior Program Manager

Katie Degen is a program manager for Brighter Bites in Houston. She received her undergraduate degree…

Thelma Green

Senior Program Manager

Thelma Green is a Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites in Houston. When she was two…

Tibisay Guzman

Senior Program Coordinator

Tibisay Guzman is a program coordinator for Brighter Bites in Houston. She began her career at…

Anjanette Nikodym

Senior Program Coordinator

Anjanette Nikodym is a senior program coordinator for Brighter Bites in Houston. She began working with…

Maryann Aguinaga

Program Supervisor

Maryann is a Program Supervisor for Brighter Bites in Dallas. Her journey with Brighter Bites began…

Melanie Button, MPH

Project Manager

Melanie Button is a project manager for Brighter Bites, overseeing our NYC and Washington, D.C area…

Gina Flores

Senior Program Manager

Gina Flores is the Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites in NYC. A true New Yorker,…

Rajni Sood Laurent

Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager Rajni Sood Laurent is a mom, baker, and lover of fresh foods. She…

The Fruit Loop

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Jul 9

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💚 Add a little green to your smoothie!⁠
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A handful of spinach or kale is an easy way to add extra nutrition for kids and adults—while the fruit keeps every sip naturally sweet. 🍓🍌🥬⁠
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Blend up our Hulk Smoothie and fuel your day with more fruits, veggies, and fiber!

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Jul 8

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A big thank you to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for investing in healthier futures for children and families in Dallas and San Antonio. ❤️⁠
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Together, we're helping make fresh food and nutrition education more accessible while empowering families to build healthy habits that last.⁠
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Jul 7

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From picky eater to proud helper in the kitchen. ❤️⁠
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Cooking together helps children build confidence, explore new foods, and create healthy habits that last.⁠

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Jul 6

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Jul 4

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Jul 3

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This past June, our NYC team was excited to take part in this year's Food & Nutrition Education Summit hosted by the Food Education Team at @NYCSchools! 🍎⁠
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This year, Brighter Bites served 17 NYC public schools through the Nutrition Collaborative and Food Education Grant programs, expanding access to fresh produce and nutrition education across New York City.⁠
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We're grateful to work alongside so many incredible partners and a Department of Education that continues to champion student health and wellness. Together, we're helping more kids and families build healthy habits that last a lifetime. ❤️

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Jul 2

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Skip the chips and bring the color to your Fourth of July BBQ! ❤️🤍💙⁠
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From crunchy veggie slaws to fruit-filled salads and kid-approved dips, these fresh, family-friendly sides are perfect for little hands and big appetites. They're easy to make, packed with flavor, and a fun way to add more fruits and veggies to your holiday table.⁠
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What's your family's favorite BBQ side? 🍉🌽🥕

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Jun 30

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Jun 29

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Cool down with a refreshing summer treat. 🥝🍧⁠
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This Zesty Zespri Kiwi Sorbet is bright, simple, and packed with fresh flavor—the perfect way to beat the heat.⁠
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Thanks to our partners at @Zesprikiwifruit for helping make healthy eating delicious and fun. 💚⁠
Save this recipe for your next sunny day!⁠

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Jun 26

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Creating communities of health starts with fresh food—but it doesn't end there. ❤️⁠
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Every produce distribution is an opportunity to help families discover new foods, cook together, build healthy routines, and grow stronger as a community.⁠
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That's the impact we're working toward every day. 🥕🍎

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Jun 25

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Jun 24

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Sweet mango, juicy kiwi, a squeeze of lime, and just the right kick of chili come together for a fresh, flavorful salad that's perfect for summer. 🥝🥭❤️⁠
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Kiwi adds a burst of sweetness, vibrant color, and a delicious way to enjoy more fruit in every bite.⁠
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What's your favorite way to eat kiwi? Let us know in the comments! 👇❤️

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Jun 22

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Jun 21

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Whether they're mastering a new trick, cruising the neighborhood, or just enjoying summer break, fruits and veggies help power kids through every adventure. Here's to healthy habits, active play, and finding joy in the ride.⁠
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Follow @BrighterBites for more fun ways to help kids fuel up with fresh food. ❤️

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Jun 19

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This month, we're celebrating all things kiwi!⁠
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These juicy little fruits are packed with flavor and nutrients, but picking the perfect kiwi can be tricky. Swipe through for simple tips on how to select, ripen, and prepare kiwis so you can enjoy them at their best.⁠
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How do you like to eat kiwifruit? Let us know in the comments! 🥝❤️⁠

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Jun 18

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Since launching in Southwest Florida, @LipmanFamilyFarms has been by our side helping bring fresh fruits and vegetables to children and families in the communities we serve. ❤️⁠
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Their sustained support has helped make healthy food more accessible and has strengthened our ability to pair fresh produce with nutrition education that empowers families to build lasting healthy habits.⁠
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Thank you, Lipman Family Farms, for your continued partnership and commitment to creating communities of health. We're grateful to grow this impact together.

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Jun 17

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Sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor 🍍 Our friends at @Dole are celebrating Pineapple Month, and we're joining the fun by sharing some of our favorite pineapple recipes to help you enjoy this tropical fruit in new ways.⁠
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From smoothies to salsas and everything in between, there's no shortage of delicious ways to add pineapple to your plate.⁠
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How do you like to eat pineapple? Tell us your favorite way in the comments! ❤️

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Jun 16

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Good intentions aren't enough, you have to know what's working. That's why we partner with researchers at UTHealth to measure our impact. As we like to say, the proof is in the papaya!⁠
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After Brighter Bites, families report eating more fruits and veggies, cooking and sharing more meals at home, choosing produce for snacks more often, making informed grocery choices, and experiencing improved food security. ⁠
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When families have access to fresh food, nutrition education, and support, healthy habits can take root and grow. 🥦🍓🍎

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Jun 15

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Jun 11

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Last week, we were thrilled to welcome back volunteers from @Morgan.Stanley to support a Brighter Bites produce distribution in Long Island City, Queens! ❤️⁠
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For multiple years, @Morgan.Stanley team members have shown up to help bag and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to local families, and we always love hosting this incredible group.⁠
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Thank you for bringing such great energy to the distribution and for helping make healthy food more accessible for NYC families. Your continued partnership and commitment to the community truly make a difference.⁠

Our Team

Founders

Lisa Helfman

Founder & Board Chair

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Co-Founder

National Team

Christina Maynor

Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support

Rich Dachman

Chief Executive Officer

Mike Pomeroy, MPH

Vice President of Programs

Michael Carpenter

Program Supervisor

Katie Degen

Senior Program Manager

Thelma Green

Senior Program Manager

Tibisay Guzman

Senior Program Coordinator

Anjanette Nikodym

Senior Program Coordinator

Maryann Aguinaga

Program Supervisor

Melanie Button, MPH

Project Manager

Gina Flores

Senior Program Manager

Rajni Sood Laurent

Senior Program Manager

Board of Directors

Faiyaz A. Bhojani, MD, DrPH

Chief Executive Officer

MRZ Medical Group, PLLC

Joel Grade

Executive Vice President, Business Development

Sysco

Steven Graubart

President & CEO

Community Hospital Partners

Lisa Helfman

Director of Public Affairs, Houston

H-E-B Grocery Company

Scott McClelland

Board Member Emeritus

Benjamin Samuels

Director

Samuels Family Foundation

Manolo Sánchez

Director

Fannie Mae

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Professor of Epidemiology

UTHealth School of Public Health

Sue Smith

Executive Vice President

Craig and Galen Brown Foundation

Vic Smith

Chief Executive Officer

JV Smith Companies

The Fruit Loop