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. Maryann has been passionate for our…

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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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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Jun 10

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Jun 8

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Jun 5

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Jun 4

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Jun 2

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Every student has a story. We keep healthy food in every summer chapter. ⁠
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When summer begins, many children lose access to the reliable meals they receive at school. As rising prices stretch families thin and fresh food becomes harder to afford, we remain committed to supporting families beyond the school year by providing consistent access to nutritious produce when it’s needed most. ⁠
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With your help, we can meet urgent needs today, build lasting solutions for tomorrow, and ensure no family faces the summer nutrition gap alone.⁠ Join us this summer, and support families across the country with access to fresh produce and nutrition education. ⁠
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www.brighterbites.org/summer2026

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May 31

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May 30

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It's a Pepper Party! 🎉🌶️⁠
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There’s an abundance of options when it comes to peppers: sweet, spicy, bell, shishito, and so many more! Peppers are packed with fiber, antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A, making them excellent additions to a healthy and balanced diet. ⁠
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Which pepper is your favorite, and how do you prepare them? ⁠
Let us know below!

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May 29

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Heading into the weekend with something fresh, colorful, and full of flavor 🥭💃⁠
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Our Mango Tango Salsa is the perfect sweet-and-zesty snack for sunny afternoons, family BBQs, or Friday night chips and salsa cravings ☀️🌶️⁠
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Save this reel to make later and let us know — would you scoop this with chips or add it on top of tacos? 👇⁠

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May 27

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May 25

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Today, we honor and remember the brave service members who gave their lives in service to our country. ❤️⁠
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As families gather around tables, grills, and shared meals this Memorial Day, we’re reminded how meaningful community, connection, and nourishment can be.⁠
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From all of us at Brighter Bites, we wish you a safe and peaceful Memorial Day spent with the people you love. 🇺🇸🍉⁠
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#MemorialDay #BrighterBites #Community #HealthyFamilies

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May 23

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Memorial Day BBQ coming up? ☀️🌽🫐⁠
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Bring a side everyone will actually want to eat 👏 Our Texas Corn & Blueberry Salad is sweet, crunchy, colorful, and kid-approved ❤️⁠
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Because healthy food should feel fun, fresh, and easy to share.⁠
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Save this recipe for your weekend cookout and tag us if you make it! 👇⁠

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May 22

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Sweet, colorful, and full of summer vibes 🍍🌶️☀️⁠
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As we celebrate all things peppers in May, families are giving our Do the Hula Salsa a try, and it’s a hit! With juicy pineapple and crisp bell peppers, this easy recipe is a fresh, fun way to enjoy warmer temps.⁠
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Find this recipe and more at www.brighterbites.org/recipes

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May 21

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May 20

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Sometimes getting kids to try healthy foods starts with making them feel fun, familiar, and a little less scary. Our superhero pepper video turns colorful peppers into adorable superheroes kids can root for! 💥⁠
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From brave green pepper sidekicks to crunchy red heroes, it’s a playful way to spark curiosity about healthy foods and encourage kids to give something new a try.⁠
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Because at Brighter Bites, we know healthy habits are built one small bite at a time. ❤️⁠
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We want to hear from you👇⁠
What fruit or veggie is a superhero in your house?⁠
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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