Nominations are now being accepted for the 2021 Humanitarian Award to honor a southwest Missouri resident for service that contributes to the betterment of his or her community. The deadline for nominations is noon on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Nominations can be submitted online at http://www.formstack.com/forms/CFO-humanitarian.
This year will mark the 32nd annual Humanitarian Award. The award was founded by the late Jewell Thompson Schweitzer, a significant donor to the CFO. With her death in 2018, her estate gift to the CFO has considerably increased the CFO’s unrestricted grant making endowment and endowed funds designated to support several local agencies.
The winner of this year’s Humanitarian Award will be honored with others recognized in celebration of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ National Philanthropy Day in November. The CFO is partnering with the AFP’s Missouri Ozark Region Chapter, to honor a wide range of individuals and organizations for their contributions to the region.
Nominations also may be emailed or mailed to Suzette West with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce at: [email protected]; or Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 2021 Humanitarian Award, P.O. Box 1687, Springfield, MO, 65801. The nominations will be evaluated by an independent committee of three members of the clergy and three Ozarks community leaders under the direction of the Chamber.
Humanitarian nominees should be “an individual who has the courage to take decisive action, the wisdom to face aggressive challenges, and the willingness to sacrifice to affect these causes that have a long-term impact on the betterment of the community.” The 2020 Humanitarian was Steve Edwards, president and CEO of CoxHealth, recognized for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of southwest Missouri during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award is designed to recognize a living person; posthumous nominations are not accepted. More information about the criteria is available at www.cfozarks.org/humanitarian.
This year’s luncheon to honor the 2021 Humanitarian is currently planned for Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the White River Conference Center. The winner receives a cash award, which traditionally has been donated to a favorite charity.
Founded in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks is the region’s largest public charitable foundation serving a network of donors, 53 regional affiliate foundations and nonprofit partners across central and southern Missouri through with assets of $394 million as of June 30.
