Jewell P. Lowe Humanitarian Award
Jewell Lowe’s life was devoted to charity, leadership, influence and advocacy, improving the lives of the people of Acadiana. In 1965 Jewell, her husband Bob Lowe and other community leaders, founded the Southwest Louisiana Education and Referral Center (SLERC) – now 232-HELP – exists to help people in need return to productive and healthy lives by connecting these people with community resources and social services that address their needs.
Since 1965, this organization has assisted more than 10 million callers and has had an estimated economic impact of more than $170 million throughout Acadiana. Today, 232-HELP serves approximately 800,000 people in 10 south Louisiana parishes – Avoyelles, Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion.
The Jewell P. Lowe Humanitarian Award was first presented in 2014 to recognize those individuals of substantial humanitarian accomplishment who have exhibited a deep compassion for those less fortunate, a desire to improve the lives of the people of Acadiana, and whose life’s work has positively advanced these ideals.
Past Recipients
- 2022 - Kim Bishop & Bennet "Boyd" Anderson
- 2021 - Merilyn Crain
- 2019 - Daynese & Randy Haynie
- 2018 - Paul "Buddy" Azar & John Hendry
- 2017 - Bo & Jerry Ramsay
- 2016 - Richard Zuschlag
- 2015 - Dr. Shirley Covington, Richard D'Aquin, Robert "Bob" Lowe
- 2014 - Dr. Terry Cromwell
He acted as a past president and board member of 232-HELP, the Louisiana State University Dean’s Advisory Council, the board of trustees for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, as well as the ULL Industry Telecommunications Advisory Committee, the board of trustees at Ascension Day School, an advisor to Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Acadiana, publicity chairman for the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, and is actively working with the Boy Scouts of America.
Richard nurtures a culture of giving within Acadian Companies. He explains “As a young man, my parents taught me the value of giving one’s time and talents in appreciation for God’s blessings.”
In 1993, Dr. Cromwell pioneered the creation of the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, which provides medical care for the working poor who have no insurance coverage. He served as Chairman of the Board for over 10 years and volunteered his services to assist the clinic in providing volunteer health care and surgeries as needed.
Dr. Cromwell was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Louisiana Medical Society in 1997, and in 1999, he received the Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, Lafayette Region. Through his life’s work, Dr. Cromwell has exhibited both a deep compassion and a desire to improve the lives of the people of Acadiana.