Staff & Board

Executive Director
Contact Elise

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Elise Geiger serves as the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Chicago. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, she has worked in human resources, operations management, strategic planning, public relations, community relations, fundraising, and event and project management. She has concentrated much of her career on change management to create goal-oriented, positive, and collaborative cultures in the workplace. Since being appointed Executive Director in 2019, Elise has guided the Board of Directors through strategic planning that established a clear path toward growth and sustainability and refocused staff priorities to secure the financial health of the mission.

Organizational priorities implemented under her leadership include an increase in community relations, the establishment of a major donor program, a corporate engagement program, a more robust grant-seeking effort, and expanded programming that aligns the mission of Meals on Wheels Chicago with the national Older Americans Act.

Under her leadership, Meals on Wheels Chicago successfully navigated the difficult years of the pandemic, meeting the dramatic increase in the number of seniors and individuals with disabilities in need. In 2022, Meals on Wheels Chicago celebrated 35 years of serving the Chicago community and launched the Nourish Chicago Pantry, a client-choice food pantry serving low-income seniors, many of whom are veterans. Meals on Wheels Chicago programs now collectively provide more than 4.7 million meals a year to more than 13,000 individuals living in every neighborhood of the city.

Director of Philanthropy
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After graduating with a degree in political science from Beloit College, Ellen started her career as an event planner, working for a top venue in the city and then for an event planning company. Wanting to lend her time and talents to the nonprofit sector, Ellen transitioned to working for a school where she oversaw the fundraising program, including a transformational capital campaign. To satisfy her desire for continued education, Ellen moved on to receive her master’s degree in public policy from Loyola University Chicago and then lent her expertise in fundraising, marketing, budgeting, and strategic planning to a cancer research foundation.

Ellen’s prior experience helping organizations through times of growth and transition gives her a unique set of tools that she looks forward to employing at Meals on Wheels Chicago.

Director of Community Impact
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Cory Morris is an accomplished chef with more than 23 years of experience in the culinary industry. He has worked in top restaurants and hotels, earning accolades for his exceptional cuisine and leadership skills. Alongside his successful culinary career, Cory spent many years volunteering with Meals on Wheels Chicago, first serving on the Associate Board, then joining the Board of Trustees and serving as Chef Lead for the annual fundraising gala, Celebrity Chef Ball.

This experience afforded Cory an up-close view of the program and the impact it has on his community, inspiring him to deepen his commitment to the mission by joining the Meals on Wheels Chicago team as the Corporate and Community Relations Manager.

In this position, Cory uses his extensive experience and skills to build and maintain strong relationships with community partners and corporate sponsors. He excitedly leverages his passion for food and his commitment to community service to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Chicago area.

Outside of work, Cory is a devoted husband to his wife Kiran and father to their children, Julien and Eleanor. He enjoys spending time with his family, exploring new culinary experiences, and volunteering in his community.

Nourish Chicago Pantry Manager
Contact Emma

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While studying ecology at Butler University, Emma discovered her love for urban gardening, native species, and food systems. But, her experience introduced a more important conversation about food access and justice. Wanting to make a difference through policy and social service, she continued her education at Indiana University, earning her Master in Public Affairs and Environmental Science.

Following school, she worked at a variety of nonprofits including a science museum and an afterschool education program. There, she assisted in grant writing, event management, and fundraising. Working in growing organizations gave her the opportunity to create systems and processes organization-wide, which increased efficiency, communication, and donor and volunteer retention. Emma eagerly applies her skills and passion to fulfill the mission of Meals On Wheels Chicago.