Merry Fredrick was awarded the second annual Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award, Tuesday in Des Moines at the Iowa Hunger Summit.
Fredrick is the former executive director of Self-Help International. The Waverly-based organization helps farmers in Ghana and Nicaragua grow high protein maize.
"I'm very humbled by the award," said Fredrick, who hopes the award will heighten Self-Help International's profile so that it may grow and eventually end hunger.
Self-Help International also provides micro-credit loans to women for starting small-scale businesses.
Fredrick wants these loans in every country. "They're so good at making sure that their children are taken care of with the profits that they receive."
