Harlequin Honours Joan Clayton and Ina Andre of Windfall

More Than Words, Volume 5, a series of inspirational short stories,
    produced to celebrate Joan and Ina and four other extraordinary womenTORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Harlequin Enterprises Limited, a leading global
publisher of women's fiction, honours remarkable women with its annual More
Than Words award. Among the recipients are Joan Clayton and Ina Andre,
founders of Toronto's Windfall.
    Last year Windfall, which runs like a well-oiled sewing machine,
processed over 265,000 pieces of donated new clothing valued at over $10
million retail. From their 8,000-square-foot warehouse, Windfall services 90
agencies with everything from children's backpacks and snowsuits to men's and
women's business suits and T-shirts. Now in their late seventies, Joan and Ina
continue the work begun with Second Harvest, a charity the two women founded
to redistribute food. Through Second Harvest and Windfall, Joan and Ina's work
and vision have touched the lives of over one million people in Toronto.
    "Joan Clayton and Ina Andre are the real-life heroines behind two
much-needed Toronto charities. Through Windfall, and Second Harvest before it,
Joan and Ina have demonstrated true compassion for those who need it most,"
said Donna Hayes, Publisher and CEO, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. "At Harlequin
we are proud to support their vision with a $10,000 donation to Windfall, and
to present to them the Harlequin More Than Words award."
    Through the Harlequin More Than Words program, $10,000 has been donated
to Windfall, and RWA RITA(R) Award winning author Stephanie Bond has written a
story inspired by the charity and Joan and Ina's dedication.
    "I can't tell you how delighted I am to be part of this edition of the
More Than Words collection," says Stephanie. "I'm touched by Harlequin's
efforts to recognize and reward organizations that make a difference in this
world every single day by touching people's lives."
    "When we had our two hatchback cars and the dining-room table, did we
ever think this would be the kind of operation it is now? Of course not," says
Ina. "I'm amazed that the need is still so terribly strong. The level of
poverty in this very wealthy city has deepened. The people at Second Harvest
and Windfall are able to make just a tiny dent."
    Joan and Ina generally stay at arm's length from day-to-day activities,
but say they're amazed by the expertise and enthusiasm of Helen Harakas, their
executive director who recently started Windfall's KIDPACKS program. With the
help of volunteers and media, last year Windfall distributed over 1,200
backpacks filled with school supplies so fewer children would have to carry
school books home in plastic bags.
    Stephanie Bond's story honoring Joan and Ina and Windfall will appear in
More Than Words, Volume 5 in April. The anthology contains five fictional
stories, each inspired by the work of this year's Harlequin More Than Words
award recipients.  The program hopes to inspire readers to get involved and
give back themselves.  Also contained in the anthology are original novellas
written by bestselling authors Heather Graham, Candace Camp, Brenda Jackson
and Tara Taylor Quinn. In addition, Harlequin presented each recipient with a
$10,000 donation to support their respective charities and help them continue
their important work.
    "Harlequin is a longtime supporter of women's causes and we are proud to
continue this tradition through the Harlequin More Than Words program," says
Donna Hayes. "Established in 2004 as our main philanthropic initiative, the
More Than Words program remains dedicated to celebrating and rewarding women
who make extraordinary contributions to their community."
    From hundreds of nominations Harlequin chose six outstanding women, who
represent a broad variety of women's causes, as recipients of this year's
award. Ranging in age from twenties to late seventies, these women touch the
lives of millions of Americans and Canadians. From providing shelter and
services to abused women and children to working to provide toys to children
in hospitals, this year's recipients all have one thing in common--they have
created not-for-profit organizations that significantly improve their
communities.Harlequin More Than Words Award Recipients

    --  Johanna Kandel is the founder of The Alliance for Eating Disorders
        Awareness. At 21, Johanna, a victim of eating disorders, gave up
        graduate school to found The Alliance. Based in West Palm Beach,
        Florida, the grassroots organization spreads awareness about eating
        disorders and the positive effects of healthy body image. In the past
        eight years, over 100,000 students, parents and health professionals
        have heard Johanna's story. Ten million women and one million men
        suffer from anorexia in America.


    --  Understanding that children in hospital are scared, tired and bored
        and need to play and cuddle, Erin Puck founded Toys.Calm in Silver
        City, New Jersey, at the age of 12 while undergoing radiation and
        chemotherapy for a malignant brain tumor. Today, with the help of
        Erin's family and a few volunteers, Toys.Calm has delivered over
        75,000 toys and more than 125 laptops to hospitals such as Robert
        Wood Johnson, Jersey Shore Medical and Monmouth Medical, the
        Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and New York Presbyterian
        Hospital. Currently Erin is studying political science at Villanova
        University in Pennsylvania.


    --  In 1970 Sandra Ramos of New Jersey founded North America's first
        shelter for battered women. For almost 40 years Sandra has helped
        abused women find dignity and safety. Her grassroots, community-based
        nonprofit organization Strengthen Our Sisters has 177 beds in seven
        shelters and runs a computer school where women can upgrade their
        skills, two thrift stores, a day-care center and car donation
        program. With one woman physically assaulted in her home every 15
        seconds in the United States and nearly six million women battered in
        a single year, Strengthen Our Sisters has its work cut out for it.


    --  Nancy Sander founded the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of
        Asthmatics in Fairfax, Virginia, in response to her daughter's battle
        with severe asthma and allergies. The AANMA is now an international
        network of families determined to overcome asthma and allergies
        rather than simply cope with them. Thirteen staff members and 70
        outreach service coordinator volunteers offer support and practical
        strategies to patients and families in the US and Canada, while
        publishing monthly award-winning newsletters, magazines, books and
        other educational material. Above all, Nancy and the AANMA give hope
        to parents who thought they would have to struggle with their
        children's illness alone.Information on donations or volunteering time with the organizations
highlighted in this year's program is available at
www.HarlequinMoreThanWords.com.
    Readers are also encouraged to submit nominations for next year's More
Than Words award at www.HarlequinMoreThanWords.com.

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    NOTE TO EDITOR: To arrange for an interview with a More Than Words author
or award recipient please contact: Maureen O'Donnell, [phone],
[e-mail]

For further information: Maureen O'Donnell, [phone],
[e-mail], for Harlequin Enterprises Limited