St. Louis Park community leaders receive 2014 Park Nicollet Foundation Community Service Award

Award celebrates outstanding individuals with significant, long-term community contributions

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Oct. 1, 2014 – This week, Karen Atkinson, St. Louis Park School District Children First director, and Karen Bjorgan, Park Nicollet Stroke INSPIRE program director and founder, were named the recipients of the 2014 Park Nicollet Health Services Community Service Award thanks to their efforts in promoting the health and well-being of the populations they serve.

Since the inception of the Children First program back in 1993, Atkinson has been instrumental in communicating the program’s mission, which is to help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible. She has put this mission into action by building an Asset Champions Network of 200 hundred individuals representing area business, education, faith, city, health care and philanthropic organizations. These Asset Champions are responsible for working directly with area youth to promote the Children First philosophy. As a result, research has shown that children who have these assets show an improved performance at school, greater likelihood to volunteer in the community, and are less likely to use tobacco or be sexually active.

After suffering a stroke of her own in 1991, Bjorgan made it her mission to push for more support for other stroke survivors and their families. She began visiting stroke patients at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, and in 1994 she began a support group for young people who had suffered a stroke or brain injury. In 1997, she launched the Stroke INSPIRE Program with the help of therapists and doctors at Park Nicollet, allowing stroke and brain injury survivors and their families support, education, hope and a chance to interact with others experiencing similar challenges. Thanks to her efforts, the INSPIRE program continues to make tremendous steps forward in offering stroke prevention, intervention and awareness.

Both Atkinson and Bjorgan will be honored at the 34th annual Park Nicollet Foundation Gala on Saturday, Oct. 11, which will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis. The event will bring together more than 1,000 business, community and Park Nicollet leaders for a night of food, music, auctions, dancing and fun. The gala kicks off at 6 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction, with the dinner program and dancing beginning at 7:45 p.m. To learn more about the event and reserve your spot, visit parknicollet.com/gala.