Rite Aid Healthy Futures ushers in next era of philanthropy

A healthier future is the overall mission of Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the charity formerly known as the Rite Aid Foundation.

Healthy Futures, which will debut a new visual look that represents its pursuit of progress, is also sharing its new “Uplifting Our Neighborhoods Together,” tagline.

“Our new identity is a commitment to do all we can to create a world in which everyone won’t just imagine — but live — a healthy future,” Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures said. “We recognize the long journey ahead to advance and achieve equity for our neighbors and neighborhoods. But we believe that by working together with our partners and Rite Aid customers, we can make positive change one city, one neighborhood, one person, one action at a time. We can all be the human spark that drives real progress and uplifts our neighborhoods.”

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To kick off the charity’s relaunch, the Camp Hill, Pa.-based company announced the launch of its $10 million Strengthening Cities initiative that supports healthier and more equitable neighborhoods.

With a focus on food equity, the initiative will initially fund 20 nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on Black and Brown-led charities across Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Fresno and Philadelphia.

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“Racial inequities and health disparities across big cities and small towns in the U.S. continue to profoundly affect the lives and futures of tens of millions of Americans every day. ZIP codes have unparalleled consequences for one’s life opportunities and long-term outlook,” DeCamara said. “The Strengthening Cities initiative will confront the harsh realities of poverty and hunger while impacting many lives and futures. We cannot achieve racial equity if we do not also achieve health equity for all Americans.”

The grants will support innovative and sustainable programs that aim to widen food sovereignty, address food apartheid and ultimately improve health outcomes for children and their families. These programs will include community gardens urban farms, school partnerships and hunger relief efforts, the company said.  

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“One of the causes of poor health in many predominantly Black urban communities is lack of easy access to high-quality, fresh, nutrient-dense produce. Our programs, and others like it across the country, address this crisis by providing access to those essential foods,” Malik Yakini, executive director at the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, one of the initial grant recipients, said. “Our programs also encourage community members to take action to create more equitable and healthier communities. Ultimately, we are striving to nurture a sense of agency within the young people so that they see themselves as having responsibility to make positive changes in their community.”