Celebrating Service to Others
The annual Humanitarian of the Year Award honors those who have dedicated their lives to others.
The annual Humanitarian of the Year Award honors those who have dedicated their lives to others.
Stephanie Stenger has been named the Humanitarian of the Year for her volunteer leadership of Springfield nonprofits and community initiatives, particularly for her role in Junior League of Springfield’s founding of Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery.
Stenger is CEO of Springfield Land LP, a real estate development company. She has served in leadership roles with numerous nonprofits, including Junior League of Springfield, Care to Learn, Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Springfield-Greene County Library District’s Board of Trustees, Friends of the Zoo and Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Stenger was also integral in Moxie Cinema’s conversion to a nonprofit in 2010. She currently serves as president of Moxie Cinema, an executive committee member of Legal Services of Southern Missouri and a board member of the Library Foundation.
The award criteria describe a humanitarian as “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 award is designed to recognize a living person; posthumous nominations are not accepted. The nominations will be evaluated by an independent committee of three members of the clergy and three community leaders under the direction of the Chamber. The honoree typically receives a $5,000 cash award, which they have traditionally donated to a favorite charity.
The selection committee shall consider:
... all people in Southwest Missouri, regardless of age, race, sex or religion and shall also consider any recommendations from the general public;
... the visibility of the cause or the person in the community so that others will be inspired by their humanitarian activities;
... that the person may be a volunteer or an employed person, and if employed, the quality of the humanitarian effort shall exceed that called for by the position;
... that because the award recognizes the human factor in humanitarianism, the quality of the recipient’s personal involvement with others in need of assistance or support will be carefully considered.