The Center For Human Services handed out 13 plaques to deserving individuals, contributors and community partners Friday during a recognition luncheon held at the Sedalia Country Club.

CHS CEO David Kramer said the impact he sees in the community is amazing. “Without everybody's support, we can't do what we do. And the impact is tremendous.”

Kramer, who has been serving as CEO for one year, one month and 14 days, said that being able to draw people from across the state for this type of celebration is absolutely wonderful.”

According to CHS Development Director Susan Mergen, “this is the best day of the year” because “we get to bring folks from multiple counties together under one roof and recognize people and businesses that have really stepped up to the plate, whether it's donations or achieving personal growth awards and it gives us all a chance to refocus and say wow this is why we do what we do, because of these success stories, and supporting people in many, many ways,” Mergen told KSIS.

CHS serves 39 counties in Missouri, and growing.

“A lot of connections have been made today, and it's all about building relationships,” Mergen noted.

This is the first awards luncheon for a couple of years due to COVID.

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Mergen expressed her thanks to the community for supporting the Center since 1955.

“We are only growing to meet the needs of a population, whether it's employment, day services, service coordination, early care and education, community living or residential support, we are here to give support and we thank the community,” Mergen concluded.

Those receiving recognition included:

*Sylvia Hopkins, Tyson Foods, Tom Rash and SetWorks for Outstanding Generosity

*William Hardin and Steven Sims, Missouri State Fair, for Outstanding Employment Opportunities

*Kiwi Popk-Wyatt, Bothwell Regional Health Center; and Cindy Edwards, Franklin County Co-op Early Childhood, for Outstanding Community Involvement

*Joshua Chojnaki, Service Coordination; James Borges, Employment Services; Kenny Dole, Employment Services; Randy Webster, Community Living; Beaux Brown, Day Services; and Wyatt Dunnam, Family and Child Development.

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