Nov. 7, 2024
With BookBag, Michaels supports literacy for Christian County students.
Sheila Michaels has been named the Humanitarian of the Year for promoting literacy and access to information for youth and families in Christian County.
A former school librarian, Michaels is currently director of the BookBag program, which provides families with free books, snacks, hygiene items, and school supplies. The program has distributed thousands of items since its inception in 2022. Through BookBag, Michaels partners with local businesses and nonprofits to set up “pop-up” libraries at various locations to distribute items for Christian County students. The program grew to include students and families beyond Nixa and in summer 2024 supported 400 people and distributed more than 1,400 items free of charge. Michaels is working with libraries throughout the state to establish BookBag programs in their communities.
“When I think about Sheila Michaels, librarian and equity and diversity advocate, I know she is a servant leader and the best example of a humanitarian I have ever met,” said Haylee Anderson, the educator and instructional specialist who nominated Michaels for the award.
“When I think about Sheila Michaels, librarian and equity and diversity advocate, I know she is a servant leader and the best example of a humanitarian I have ever met,” said Haylee Anderson, the educator and instructional specialist who nominated Michaels for the award. “She has invested her blood, sweat, tears, time, money, effort and passion into making Christian County a more accessible place for its residents.”
The Humanitarian of the Year Award was founded in 1990 by the late Springfield donor Jewell Thompson Schweitzer to honor individuals in the region who excel at serving others in a humanitarian capacity. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce organizes a committee to review nominations and select the recipient.
The 39th person to receive the award over 35 years, Michaels’ other honors include being named to the American Library Association’s 2022 Class of Emerging Leaders. MASL named Michaels its inaugural School Librarian of the Year in 2024.
The CFO will present the Humanitarian award to Michaels at the Association of Fundraising Professionals–Ozark Region Chapter’s National Philanthropy Day celebration at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 2431 N. Glenstone Ave. The event honors a range of individuals and organizations involved in many facets of philanthropy. For tickets, visit cfozarks.org/npd.
This year’s selection committee was chaired by Bob Helm, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce chair-elect and Elliott Robinson & Company CPAs partner, and included:
- Dr. John Birchett, Second Baptist Church, Springfield
- Pastor Karen Hayden, King’s Way United Methodist Church, Springfield
- John Niesen, Global Medical Response, West Plains Chamber of Commerce chair-elect
- Mike Patrick, Grand Country, Branson Lakes Area Chamber chair-elect
- Katrina Richards, The Hershewe Law Firm, Joplin Area Chamber chair-elect
- Jaimie Trussell, Council of Churches of the Ozarks, Springfield
Michaels will receive a $5,000 cash award, which is traditionally donated to one or more charities of the honoree’s choice. For a list of past honorees, please visit cfozarks.org/humanitarian.
