Chamber committee picks 2014 Humanitarian

A Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce-organized committee selected civic leader Morey Mechlin as the 2014 Humanitarian Award recipient.

Nominated by Care to Learn co-founder Doug Pitt, Mechlin serves as executive director for the nonprofit that, to date, has filled over 350,000 health, hunger and hygiene need requests for students through its 18 chapters, according to a news release.

Pitt referred to Mechlin as a “champion for Springfield” for her working helping to organize the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and other volunteer efforts.

In a letter of support for her nomination, CoxHealth Vice President for Marketing and Public Affairs Jim Anderson said Mechlin is the poster child for humanitarian causes.

“It is who she is. It is how she thinks and acts her life. It is how she models her behavior and her living,” he wrote in the letter.

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. This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Humanitarian Award, and Mechlin will be honored during a noon luncheon Dec. 15 at DoubleTree Hotel, the release said.

Last year’s recipient was Askinosie Chocolate LLC founder Shawn Askinosie.