When we relaunched as Rite Aid Healthy Futures in 2022, we came forth with a promise.

We pledged to uplift our neighborhoods, together. That alongside our partners, communities and donors, we would tackle daunting challenges facing children and families, such as racial equity, food access and mental health, and meet them head-on through innovative programs.

For Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the last year has been full of promising beginnings, deepened partnerships and continued learning. But the last year has also underscored the urgency of the work.

The escalating youth mental health crisis, impacts of inflation on those most vulnerable and persistent disparities in health and wellness for Black and Brown communities have furthered and emboldened our commitment to our partners and neighborhoods.

It’s no longer enough to react to challenges as they happen – it’s time to commit proactively to programs and people that will lead to lasting change.

So, with a new name and sharpened focus, Healthy Futures dove headfirst into communities to expand the reach of our initiatives and partnerships, accelerating progress by working for what matters most: healthy kids, healthy places and healthy futures.

In 2023, we partnered with six national leading organizations in the youth mental health space, joining the growing response to the crisis ravaging kids and teens across our communities.

We expanded our Connecting Communities partnerships with 40 leading children’s hospitals, increasing access to key resources, such as fresh food and life-saving health screenings, across Rite Aid’s 17-state footprint.

We traveled to learn from and dream aloud with 28 partners from our Strengthening Cities initiative, walking the neighborhoods they serve, meeting the families who call them home and learning more about what they need most.

Healthy Futures also continued to support more than 350 local charities that provide vital services to children and families on a wide range of issues, such as child abuse prevention, medical conditions, homelessness and literacy.

And as we reflect on all we and our partners have accomplished this year and the work that lies ahead, we know that our journey is far from over.

But while challenges like hunger and racism cannot be solved in a year, all futures start with the foundations we lay in the present and the partnerships we build along the way.

Join us as we look back at just a few of the people and organizations working to create a world full of healthy kids, healthy places and healthy futures. Then join us on our continuing journey as we live our commitment to uplift our neighborhoods together.

Onward,