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.