Celebrating Service to Others
The annual Humanitarian Award honors those who have dedicated their lives to others.
The annual Humanitarian Award honors those who have dedicated their lives to others.
Dr. Heather Lyons-Burney, volunteer pharmacist and board president for My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy, has been named the 2023 Humanitarian.
Over the last several years, Lyons-Burney worked to change state law in order to establish My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy, which opened in February. The pharmacy provides access to vital medications and health care resources for uninsured individuals in Stone and Taney counties. An associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Lyons-Burney also operates a clinical practice site at Faith Community Health, a nonprofit clinic for uninsured and underserved residents of the Branson area.
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 winner typically receives a $5,000 cash award, which he or she has 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.