GEORGE ORTIZ, co-founder and executive director of The ELISHA Project, has been awarded the 2025 Murray Family Prize for Community Enrichment by the Rhode Island Foundation for his dedication to helping Rhode Islanders in need. This recognition comes with $50,000, with no restrictions on the use of the money. The ELISHA Project is a nonprofit with an $8.1 million annual operating budget. The Pawtucket-based organization provides food, furniture, hygiene products and household essentials to Rhode Islanders in need through a network of nonprofits, churches, schools and municipal agencies. In 2024, the ELISHA Project provided more than 2.5 million pounds of food distributed by more than 550 volunteers.
What will this award money be used for? I am so grateful to the Murray family for this award, but I have not had any time to contemplate what I intend to do with it. As an organization, we do not come up for air until after the holidays. If I had it my way, I would use the money to purchase land that I would donate to the ELISHA Project so we can finally have a permanent home.
Has the organization seen an uptick in need from the community due to the ongoing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program crisis? We’ve seen a significant uptick not just in the number of households seeking support but also in the depth of need. People who once came for supplemental items are now relying on us for full pantry replacements, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and everyday household items. Veterans, seniors, working parents – many who never expected to need help – are waiting in our lines for the first time.
How do you pick which nonprofits, churches, schools and municipal agencies to work with and join your network? We look for partners who are committed to serving people without barriers, judgment or red tape; can safely receive and distribute high-volume donations; help us expand reach into neighborhoods where resources are limited; and most importantly, also have some skin in the game – those partners who come to help pack boxes, send groups to volunteer at Share Markets, those that understand that we all have a part to play are our most valuable players. At the end of the day, we work with partners who share our belief that service should be human, not transactional.
What advice would you give to other nonprofit organizations with similar goals? Stay close to the community you serve – physically, emotionally and operationally. Listen more than you assume. People will tell you what they need if you create space for them to speak. Second, build relationships before you need them. Collaboration is everything. Your partnerships will determine your impact, especially when crises hit. Third, stay flexible. Community needs shift quickly – food costs spike, SNAP changes, housing instability increases – and your organization must be nimble enough to adapt. Do not be afraid to rethink systems, rebuild processes or let go of programs that no longer meet the moment.
Thank you George Ortiz and The ELISHA Project for all you do to make a better community!