Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D - Encino) honored Project Rise, a Dawoodi Bohra Initiative, as his 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 46. Assemblymember Gabriel was accompanied by members of the Los Angeles Dawoodi Bohra community for a luncheon in the State’s Capitol, where they received the honor and recognition.
Project Rise is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that was honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
Launched in June 2018, Project Rise is a philanthropic initiative of the Dawoodi Bohra community committed to addressing the needs of marginalized communities through a variety of impactful programs. With a core focus on tackling issues like malnutrition and environmental conservation, the organization has made significant strides in both global and local efforts, demonstrating unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability, humanitarian service, and interfaith collaboration.
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“Project Rise has been an incredibly dedicated partner in protecting the environment, promoting interfaith collaboration, and serving the most vulnerable in our community,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). “I’m so grateful for their service and I am proud to recognize them as our 2025 Nonprofit of the Year.”
Project Rise is an active community partner in the West San Fernando Valley. For each of the last three years, Project Rise has participated in Assemblymember Gabriel’s Annual Valley Day of Service, sponsoring thousands of lunch kits that are distributed to local food pantries and homelessness outreach organizations. Project Rise also took the lead on multiple efforts to support fire relief efforts following the Palisades and Alta Dena fires, donating outreach kits for the City of Los Angeles’ Inside Safe program, and coordinating community cleanups with Volunteers Cleaning Communities.
“We are honored and grateful to Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for nominating Project Rise – A Dawoodi Bohra Initiative – as a 2025 Nonprofit of the Year,” said Aamir Hatimi, representing The Dawoodi Bohras of Los Angeles. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to uplifting communities and addressing global development challenges, ranging from hunger and poverty to climate crisis and education through compassion, sustainability, and service. We share this honor with many dedicated volunteers and partners who make our mission possible every day.”
“We are grateful for the work of Project Rise and want to extend our congratulations for this well-deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), the sponsor for this initiative. “Nonprofits provide critical services, advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors, and enrich the lives of all Californians. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter, nonprofits make our communities stronger”.
“Nonprofits are not just innovators and problem-solvers, but also a major economic force within the state,” said Green. According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year.
Now in its tenth year, the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative provided the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminated with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, May 21.
