Brighter Bites Honors Sysco with Inaugural Feeding Futures Partnership Award; Rich Dachman and April Love Comment


Thu. July 16th, 2026 - by ANUK Staff

HOUSTON, TX - Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create communities of health through fresh food, presented the inaugural Feeding Futures Partnership Award to Sysco, the global leader in food distribution, in recognition of its extraordinary national partnership and longstanding commitment to helping Brighter Bites connect families with fresh food and nutrition education. The award was presented on Tuesday, July 14, during a special volunteer event and family produce distribution at Houston’s Marian Park Sunrise Center.

Devin Graves, Sysco's Director of Community Impact, who accepted the award, pictured next to Brighter Bites’ CEO Rich Dachman

Over the past decade, Sysco has contributed significant philanthropic support to Brighter Bites and created a multi-faceted partnership by leveraging its FreshPoint subsidiaries to support produce logistics for Brighter Bites programming in Florida, San Antonio, Dallas, and the Greater DC Metro region.

Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer, Brighter Bites

“Sysco has been far more than a financial supporter of Brighter Bites,” said Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. “They have been a true operational and mission partner, helping us move fresh food into communities, supporting our teams across multiple cities, and consistently stepping up to invest in the health and well-being of families. This recognition reflects not only their generosity, but their deep commitment to creating healthier futures for children.”

The event brought together Sysco volunteers, Brighter Bites staff, and local families for a day of service and celebration. Sysco team members bagged fresh produce for distribution to families attending the event. Families were able to take home bags of fresh produce as part of Brighter Bites’ ongoing work to improve access to healthy food.

April Love, Vice President, Chief Inclusion and Community Impact Officer, Sysco

“Sysco is honored to receive Brighter Bites' inaugural Feeding Futures Partnership Award. For the past decade, our partnership has reflected a shared commitment to expanding access to nutritious food and strengthening the communities we serve. Together, we're bringing to life Sysco's Purpose of Connecting the World to Share Food and Care for One Another,” said April Love, Sysco’s Vice President, Chief Inclusion & Community Impact Officer.

The event was held at the Houston Independent School District’s Sunrise Center, located at Marian Park Community Center in Southwest Houston. Sunrise Center serves as a vital community hub, supporting students and families through wraparound services that remove barriers to learning. Operated in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the center provides resources and support to strengthen family well-being across the community.

The event brought together Sysco volunteers, Brighter Bites staff, and local families for a day of service and celebration 

“Supporting families takes collaboration, and we’re proud to celebrate a partnership that demonstrates what’s possible when organizations work together to make healthy food more accessible,” added Dachman.


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Brighter Bites

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