Brighter Bites announces change to board leadership

Houston, TX (October 21, 2026) – Brighter Bites BB #:371141 announces a leadership transition on its Board of Directors as founder Lisa Helfman steps down as Board Chair, and co-founder Dr. Shreela Sharma assumes the role. The transition marks a new chapter for the organization, reinforcing its vision and deepening its commitment to growth and meaningful impact. Lisa will continue to remain actively involved with the organization, hold a seat on the board, and support its mission.

“It has been an honor to serve as board chair for the past 14 years. What began as a vision and a commitment to creating healthier communities has grown into a mission powered by the passion, dedication, and generosity of so many. As I step down from this role, I do so with gratitude and confidence in the future of this organization. While my time as chair is coming to a close, my belief in our mission and the impact we can make together remains as strong as ever,” said Lisa Helfman.

Dr. Shreela Sharma, who helped establish Brighter Bites in 2012 alongside Lisa Helfman, brings a deep understanding of the organization’s mission, programs, and community to the Board Chair role.

“Stepping into the role of Board Chair is both a privilege and a profound responsibility, and I’m honored to help guide the organization into its next chapter. I’m deeply grateful for the foundation we’ve built together and excited to work alongside our dedicated board, leadership, and supporters to strengthen our impact and advance the mission of creating healthier communities,” said Dr. Shreela Sharma.

Fiscal Year Transition Report Highlights New Fiscal Year

Alongside the leadership transition, Brighter Bites is pleased to release its Fiscal Year Transition Report, highlighting a significant organizational change: the transition to a new fiscal year that aligns with the organization’s programming and school-year calendar.

The new fiscal-year structure is designed to better reflect the rhythm of Brighter Bites’ work, providing a clearer connection between financial reporting, program delivery, and the communities and students the organization serves. The Fiscal Year Transition Report documents this shift and provides stakeholders with insight into the organization’s work during this period of transition.

“This transition gives us an opportunity to more closely connect how we measure and communicate our work with the experiences of the students, families, educators, and communities we serve,” said Rich Dachman, CEO.

The release of the Fiscal Year Transition Report and Board leadership transition represent two important steps in Brighter Bites’ ongoing growth, while reinforcing the organization’s commitment to transparency, continuity, and long-term impact. To view the Fiscal Year Transition Report, visit www.brighterbites.org/our-impact.

Brighter Bites – Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 83 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than one million individuals (including teachers) in Austin, Bakersfield, Dallas, Greater DC Metro, Greater Philadelphia, Houston, Las Cruces, Phoenix, Monterey County, New York City, San Antonio, San Diego, and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites, visit www.brighterbites.org.