LEWISTON — Mary Dempsey, community services coordinator and a founding member of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing, was awarded the 2016 Director of Volunteer Excellence Award.

Dempsey was recognized by the Maine Society Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services during the Allied Professionals Societies Recognition Luncheon on June 23 at the Maine Hospital Association’s Summer Forum in Rockport.

Dempsey developed the volunteer program at the Dempsey Center in 2008 and has directed the group volunteer program since its creation eight years ago. The group volunteer program includes several comfort item programs that provide hand-made items to cancer patients such as blankets, hats, chemo caps, port protectors, caring cards and journals. She also coordinates the garden and Reiki volunteers as part of the group volunteer program.

She is a board member of Maine Society Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Servies, and is also active in the Androscoggin Volunteer Association and the Peer2Peer volunteer association of midcoast Maine network.

In honor of her commitment to the community, she received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from St. Joseph’s College in 2015.

Her peers describe her as tremendously positive force of nature who is a pleasure to work with. 

FMI: www.dempseycenter.org.