June 3, 2003 - The Wayne State University College of Nursing will honor Marianne Udow, Darren McCarty and Roberta McCarty at the Third Annual LifeLine Awards Dinner this fall.

The LifeLine Awards, established by the College in 2001, recognize contributions to improving health care in our community.

Udow, Senior Vice President of Health Care Products and Provider Services at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, has served as the chair of the College of Nursing Board of Visitors since 2000. In addition to her work with the College, Udow serves as the chair of both the Michigan Women's Foundation and Chair of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council. Her contributions to civic organizations and health care are numerous.

The McCartys are being honored for their work through the McCarty Cancer Foundation, which was established in 1997 by Red Wing Darren McCarty as a Father's Day gift to his father Craig McCarty, who had multiple myeloma. Following Craig's death in 1999, Darren and his mother Roberta continued the work of the Foundation to raise awareness of multiple myeloma, to improve the quality of life for those suffering from the disease and to fund the highest quality research.

The Third Annual LifeLine Awards Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 25 at the Detroit Athletic Club, 241 Madison Avenue, Detroit. For ticket and sponsorship information, please call (313) 577-6967.