Patrick Dempsey Says Late Mom Would 'Be Proud' of His Cancer Nonprofit That Honors Her (Exclusive)

Patrick Dempsey has been dedicated to helping people affected by cancer ever since his late mother received her own diagnosis. 

The actor, 57, who was just crowned PEOPLE’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive, founded The Dempsey Center in 2008 in honor of his mother, Amanda, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997 and died in 2014. 

“We help people who have been impacted by cancer,” the Ferrari actor tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “We don’t treat the disease, we treat the person in what is called wraparound care. A lot of counseling, acupuncture, reiki, nutrition.”

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As a Maine native, Dempsey established two locations for his nonprofit in the state and says the Center has a goal of "reaching everyone impacted" by cancer as early as possible and offer both traditional and non-traditional approaches to treating the disease.

“The type of work that we’re doing and helping a family is very important and gives life meaning,” the Grey’s Anatomy alum says. “I think to be of service is really why we’re here and you really feel that when you’re doing this type of work.” 

As for his mom, Dempsey thinks “she’d be proud” of all the work he’s done.

“We founded it in 2008, and one of the things that kept her going was going into the Center. She would come in and talk to people who were newly diagnosed,” he tells PEOPLE. “There’s a lot of healing between both people in those moments.”

For more on 2023's Sexiest Man Alive, pick up this week's issue of People, on newsstands Friday. For more information on the Dempsey Center, visit dempseycenter.org.