MINNEAPOLIS (May 21, 2008) – Pamela DeShaw is making a real difference in the culturally diverse Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and her efforts have earned her the 2008 Fairview Cares Award.

DeShaw, an administrative nursing supervisor at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, is honored for her volunteer work outside of Fairview with Family Opportunities for Living Collaboration (FOLC), a local non-profit organization focused on providing programs that address the health and family needs of the community while promoting leadership. As the unpaid director of FOLC, DeShaw performs a multitude of duties including supervising, grant writing, developing partnerships with local organizations, creating educational programming and connecting the different cultures in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.

“Pam has truly immersed herself into the fabric of the Cedar-Riverside community,” said Ann Ellison, director of community health and church relations at Fairview. “She is not only the leader of FOLC, she plays the role of mother, friend, grandma and coach to many families in the area."

First awarded in 1998, the Fairview Cares Award recognizes remarkable volunteer community service work by people connected with Fairview. More than 200 Fairview employees and partners have been nominated for the prestigious award in past years. Award recipients receive $10,000 to be directed to the charity of their choice.

Fairview Health Services is an integrated health care system, providing care from prevention and disease management to the most complex of life-threatening injuries and illnesses as well as senior care and end-of-life services. University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview are part of this care network.  Fairview, the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and the University of Minnesota Physicians partner to educate and train two-thirds of Minnesota’s health care professionals and provide medical services to citizens from across the state.