Project Hospitality honored with Champions of Change Award at United Way Reception
Published: Oct. 30, 2025, 1:25 p.m.
By Carol Ann Benanti | benanti@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Project Hospitality was honored recently by the United Way for 43 years of serving impoverished New Yorkers.
The non-profit was the only Staten Island organization representing city anti-hunger groups to receive the United Way’s inaugural Champions for Change Award, during a reception earlier this month in Manhattan.
Project Hospitality provides a wide range of support services to the homeless, hungry and vulnerable.
Founded in 1982, its mission is to reach out to community members who are hungry, homeless or otherwise in need in order to work with them to achieve their self-sufficiency and enhancing the quality of life for the community.
The organization serves thousands of individuals annually and is the largest provider of social services on Staten Island.
Project Hospitality received its very first food and nutrition funding from the United Way 43 years ago — a $10,000 grant.
And since that time, the non-profit has put food on the table for millions of Staten Islanders.
Accepting the award was Alex Hughes, Project Hospitality director of Food and Nutrition, and the president and CEO, Rev. Terry Troia.
“We are serving more people with less food and it’s a losing battle,” said Rev. Troia. “We have already seen much less produce available to pantries since the beginning of October and the lines of hungry Staten Islanders have been the longest we have ever experienced.”
Last year the non-profit served over three million meals. The need will grow after the Nov. 1, when changes to SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) will mean many Staten Islanders will lose cash assistance for food.
“We are tasked to do the impossible for the sake of our hungry neighbors — we trust God will make a way,” Rev. Troia said.
