Atwood's journey to become Harlequin short story theme
* The founder of Patches of Light has been named a 2012 Harlequin "More Than Words" award winner and will work with an author on the story.
By KEVIN CORVO
A Hilliard woman who founded a nonprofit organization supporting the families of terminally and critically ill children is one of three women in the United States to be recognized by the publisher Harlequin for their efforts to make the world a better place.
Mindy Atwood, 54, founder of Hilliard-based Patches of Light, and two other women have been named winners of the 2012 Harlequin "More Than Words" Award, a program that recognizes women for extraordinary contributions to their community.
Each woman will be paired with a Harlequin author, with the women's journeys serving as the inspiration for a fictional story.
Atwood and the other two recipients were chosen after more than 111,000 online votes were cast and more than 7,800 Facebook shares were made in connection with the eighth annual Harlequin "More Than Words" contest.
"We are thrilled that our readers and fans have voted for such deserving and diverse causes and the heroic women who champion them," said Donna Hayes, publisher and CEO of Harlequin, in a press release announcing the recipients.
This year was the first time the public was invited to vote to determine the award recipients. Between Oct. 7 and Nov. 11, 2011, voters selected their choice and the top three among the five finalists were named award recipients.
Since the inception of the program in 2004, a committee of Harlequin employees had selected award recipients from written submissions.
Each of the award winners will receive $15,000 for her charity, equaling a total of $45,000 that is part of Harlequin's "corporate responsibility program" dedicated to "celebrating the women who make a positive different in the lives of others," the press release states.
Three of Harlequin's authors also donate their time and talent to write short stories inspired by the life and the work of the recipients.
The short stories will be available in 2013 in ebook format to download at no cost.
Atwood found Patches of Light after two of her four children faced life-threatening pediatric cancer and open-heart surgery.
Her son, Michael, 29, of New York, had open-heart surgery in 1991, and Jason, 31, of Hilliard, was treated for pediatric cancer from 1982 to 1984.
Patches of Light provides material assistance and emotional support to the families of critically and terminally ill children, such as assistance with utility bills and meals, allowing the parents of the children to remain at hospitals with their children.
During the past 11 years, Patches of Light has assisted almost 10,000 people, yet still has families on a waiting list.
The $15,000 award is particularly fortuitous as the organization had been low on funds for about 30 families on the wait list.
"Our mission is to bring a patch of light to families during the darkness of their child's illness. Winning this award has brought me my own patch of light and reinforced the importance of our work," Atwood said.
Atwood's husband and sons nominated her.
"Even though voting ended in November, I didn't receive a call until the last of January that I'd won," she said.
Atwood has been recognized by numerous organizations during the past decade for her efforts, but is pleased this recognition comes with a considerable gift to help the organization carry out its goals.
"I want to thank my board members and all my volunteers for making it possible," Atwood said.
Voters also chose Helen McGovern, of Tacoma, Wash., and Sally Spencer, of Toronto, Ontario, as "More Than Words" award recipients.
McGovern is executive director of Emergency Food Network, which distributes food to 67 food banks, meal sites, and shelters in Pierce County, Washington.
Spencer is CEO of Youth Assisting Youth, a mentoring program that works with at-risk children.
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