CFO names 27th Humanitarian Award recipient

Community Foundation of the Ozarks today name its 27th Humanitarian Award recipient.

Hearld Ambler, BKD LLP’s first managing partner 1976-1986, is scheduled to receive the award Dec. 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel, according to a news release.

Nominated by the SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging and the Senior Foundation of the Ozarks, Ambler has worked the last 27 years helping the elderly prepare their tax returns.

“His gentle smile, calming demeanor and wink of assurance have comforted confused tax filers, frazzled tax volunteers and over-their-head (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) coordinators,” said June Huff, SeniorAge’s director of community outreach who nominated Ambler, in the release. “Because of Hearld, we’ve all been able to say, ‘I believe I can do this,’ and then proven we can.”

Ambler started at BKD in 1948 and helped lead it from a regional accounting firm to one of the nation’s largest until his retirement from the Springfield public accounting firm in 1986. He also was one of the 11 founders of CFO. At the community organization, he established the Hearld and Marge Ambler Scholarship Fund for accounting majors.

Ambler was selected by a committee comprising John Wanamaker, Stephen Kleinsmith, Debi Meeds, Bob Roberts, Robert Spence, the Rev. Mark Struckhoff and Jaimie Trussell. While the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce organizes a committee to review nominations and select the annual recipient, CFO manages the fund established in 1990 by Jewell Thompson Schweitzer. The winner receives a $5,000 cash reward, which is traditionally donated to charity, according to the release.

Past recipients include Springfield attorney Kurt Larson, who founded the Safe and Sober Prom Night campaign, retired Care to Learn Executive Director Morey Mechlin and Askinosie Chocolate founder Shawn Askinosie.

Philanthropy awards
A week ago, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Ozarks Region Chapter presented philanthropy awards to businesses, individuals and nonprofits.

The awards were presented Nov. 15 at Highland Springs Country Club, according to the organization’s website.

The recipients were:
    •    Bryan Magers, Outstanding Philanthropist;
    •    Kum & Go, Outstanding Philanthropic Business;
    •    Patty Ingle of Missouri State University, Outstanding Fundraising Professional;
    •    Kevin Howard and Liz Delany of 105.9 KGBX for their work with the Ozarks Food Harvest Hungerthon, Philanthropic Media Organization;
    •    Judy Gibson and Judy Wyrick of the Great Circle Handbags of Hope event, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers;
    •    Child Advocacy Center for Over the Edge, Outstanding Fundraising Event;
    •    Halfway High School, Outstanding Youth Philanthropists; and
    •    Stenger Family Foundation, Outstanding Fundraising Foundation.

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