CFO names Humanitarian of the Year

Prater is best known for helping create The Kitchen Foundation in 1994 to help raise money for the Springfield-based nonprofit, which provides housing, food and medical services to the homeless and uninsured.

Prater organized numerous fundraisers to grow The Kitchen Foundation’s permanent endowment fund, which now stands at more than $2.1 million. The annual Mardi Gras fundraising event established in 2004 by Prater and The Kitchen Foundation board brought in more than $155,000 this year alone.

“We are very proud of Marie for her dedication to those in our community who are without resources and for the leadership that she quietly brings,” said Bill Stalnaker, chief executive officer of The Kitchen, in a news release.

Prater, who still serves on The Kitchen Foundation’s board, also was a charter member of the Junior League of Springfield and served as president from 1967–69. Under her leadership, the Junior League established the Charity Ball, a fundraising event that helped provide seed money to organizations such as The Visiting Nurses Association, The Girl’s Club and KOZK.

From 1998–2005, Prater was a member of CFO’s board of directors, and she still serves on the foundation’s grant committee. CFO, which comprises 41 affiliate community foundations and more than 1,300 charitable funds totaling about $145 million, distributed more than $8 million in grants last year.

Prater is married to retired ophthalmologist Bill Prater.

The Humanitarian of the Year award was established to “honor someone in our community who has, at great personal sacrifice, extended services, time and resources towards helping others, and to recognize the cause and work of such individuals,” according to originator Jewell Thompson Schweitzer. Honorees receive a $5,000 cash award that is typically donated to one or more charities of their choice.[[In-content Ad]]