Ben’s Way Forward

09/30/2026

Over the last few years, we have worked really hard to get Ben's Way Forward off the ground… but now we're looking for help!
We're considering adding a volunteer board member to help us keep supporting individuals and organizations in Grundy County. This is a very part-time role, and the time commitment is flexible (a few hours a month, mostly before the holidays and back to school!)

Where we need help:
-Identifying people and organizations in our community who could use a hand
-Occasional drop-offs and pick-ups of donations
-Supporting our fundraising efforts and assisting with planning of future events

What we're looking for:
-You live in Grundy County
-Bonus if you have experience with nonprofits or fundraising, but it's not required. A desire to help our community matters most!

If you're interested, please email Taylor at [email protected]

Visit www.benswayforward.org to learn more about the work we have done!

Support community initiatives and honor Ben Ortiz's legacy through meaningful action and donations. Join us to make a positive impact today.

09/06/2026

Today is Ben’s 32nd birthday. He is missed more every day. Happy birthday, Ben. We love you💙

09/03/2026

WE CARE CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE 2026

We realize that Christmas can be a source of worry and stress if you are already struggling. We are here to help.

Adopt-A-Family is an income-based Christmas assistance program for struggling Grundy County families with children from birth through high school senior.

Application sign ups will be begin October 6th. Please see the flyer below for application dates, times, and the required documentation.

If you have any questions, please call We Care at 815-942-6389 ext. 3.

PLEASE SHARE! :)

07/16/2026

Back to school is such an exciting time but can also be a huge financial burden for families. No child should have to start off their school year without all the supplies they need.

Yesterday we dropped off a variety of school supplies at We Care of Grundy County Inc for their Stuff the Bus event this weekend. We hope that this donation helps some of our local families who need a little extra help and look forward to helping our community more this year!

07/13/2026

Today our family spent the day together in one of Ben’s favorite places. We did some of his favorite things and ate his favorite food. (Of course, we ended with dessert).

It’s hard to fathom that four years have passed. Thank you to everyone who shared kind words and memories of Ben. We miss him endlessly 🤍

07/11/2026

Our website got a makeover!

As we approach the four year mark of Ben’s passing, it felt like the right time (and distraction) to make a few updates. We are excited to share the initiatives we have been working on and what’s to come. Everything we do is in honor of our brother and son who is missed so much 💙

Support community initiatives and honor Ben Ortiz's legacy through meaningful action and donations. Join us to make a positive impact today.

05/26/2026

This year, Tim Ortiz presented the annual Ben’s Way Forward MCHS scholarship to Madison Malick. We are honored to play even a small role in Madison’s bright future.

There were many great applicants, and we wish all of the MCHS 2026 graduates the best of luck in wherever their future takes them 🎓

01/30/2026

Preston Alexander Kyles has done amazing work with building out this program for youth basketball players.

01/13/2026

We still have shirts left for sale! They’re $35 each and we have large, XL, and 2XL available for porch pickup in Morris. If you’re interested, you can message us to set up a time to pick up!

12/14/2025

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to drop off holiday gifts for several local families. A heartfelt thank you to We Care of Grundy County Inc. for organizing this effort, and to Jon Jeffrey for helping with gift pick-ups along the way.

We hope these gifts bring some joy to these children this holiday season. This is especially meaningful to our family, as Ben firmly believed in helping others rather than focusing on gifts for ourselves. Seeing our community carry on his thoughtful and generous spirit through efforts like this means more than we can say.

Also, many thank you to those who donated to us on Giving Tuesday. “Thank you,” doesnt adequately express our gratitude.

Wishing you all a warm and happy holiday season.