Askinosie selected as 2013 Humanitarian

A Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce committee has selected chocolatier Shawn Askinosie as the 2013 Humanitarian Award recipient.

The chamber organizes a committee to review nominations and select the annual recipient, and Community Foundation of the Ozarks manages the fund established in 1990 by Jewell Thompson Schweitzer to support the award. The winner receives a $3,000 cash reward, which is traditionally donated to charity.

Askinosie, a former defense attorney who founded Springfield-based Askinosie Chocolate LLC in 2007, is scheduled to be honored during a Dec. 5 luncheon at the Doubletree hotel on North Glenstone Avenue, according to a CFO news release.

Nominated by the Junior League of Springfield, Askinosie was selected for his work feeding and educating children in multiple countries, as well as using his business background and chocolate company to educate Springfield students at Boyd Elementary and Pipkin Middle School, as well as the Chocolate University program for high school students. Adjacent to Askinosie Chocolate on Commercial Street, Askinosie also helps to provide learning programs through a computer lab at the Missouri Hotel.

Askinosie also is the co-founder of Springfield nonprofit Lost & Found, which provides grief counseling for children who have lost parents, the release said.

Last year's winner was Randy Russell, senior program officer managing CFO's competitive grant-making programs.