by Megan Lorius, Community Investment Manager
I have the best job at Harlequin. Some days I envy the art directors their time with the hot cover models, but mostly I love what I do. I am the Community Investment Manager at Harlequin, and every day I get to work with the most amazing women in North America through the Harlequin More Than Words program.
The program was established 7 years ago and to-date we’ve honored 32 ordinary women for their extraordinary commitment to their communities, and donated over $300,000 to assist the charities they dedicate their lives to. The women we have honored are hard-working, can-do people, with boundless energy. And the charitable organizations they contribute their time and energy to, are dedicated to making the world a better place for all of us.
But wait… there’s more! Harlequin More Than Words also provides authors with an opportunity to get involved, and this is what sets the program apart from most corporate giving initiatives. With the help of some our most acclaimed authors, the stories of our award recipients are shared with readers through fiction. In a story inspired by the award recipient, each author – who donates her time and creativity to the program – expresses the ideals of the charity and artfully incorporates the real-life heroine and her charity into the fictional story.
The authors and award recipients from More Than Words, Volume 4 celebrate together.
For over 18 months – from the time a woman and her charity are announced as an award recipient to the release of the book in which she’s honored – I work with the award recipients on a regular basis. I get to hear about their daily triumphs and struggles, their supportive families, and the wonderful people they work with. And often the regular reports keep coming long after the book is out. There are a number of women we’ve honored that I keep in close touch with. Hearing how the charity is evolving and thriving – or these days, unfortunately, I’m hearing how tough it is to raise the essential funds they need to do their work – makes my work life so rewarding. I know that Harlequin’s funding is so appreciated, and the award recipients and their whole network are honored to be highlighted in a book.
I realized while reading the National Women’s Month blog posts, that every day is Women’s Day in my office. As Olga says in her intro to the Women’s Month posts, “we in the romance world celebrate the achievements made by strong, empowered women,” and we don’t just do it in the month of March. Each of us, in our area of the romance world are encouraging, supporting, and contributing to a community of strong, empowered women, each and every day.
I encourage you to take a look at the Harlequin More Than Words Web site, learn about the women we’ve honored and how you might get involved in their charities, and perhaps pick up a copy of More Than Words, Volume 6, or a previous volume.
For my part, I am going to celebrate by committing to a regular blog post. The time for being selfish is over; I have the best job at Harlequin and it’s time to make everyone jealous! I’m going to share with you the touching anecdotes, heartwarming connections and uplifting achievements of our Harlequin More Than Words award recipients and the fabulous authors that so beautifully bring their stories to life.
To celebrate the release of More Than Words, Volume 6, which features some of Harlequin’s bestselling authors writing short stories inspired by these real-life heroines, I’d like to give away a FREE copy to three randomly chosen commenters on the blog. To win a copy of More Than Words, Volume 6 leave a comment on the blog telling us which charities you like to donate your time or money to from now until 12:00 A.M. Monday, April 5th EST. Contest only open to residents of the US and Canada. Full contest details here.
Thank you all for your comments. It is great to see such passion for a variety of great causes.
Christina, as you know, elders receive much less attention than other “needy” groups – your 3 hours a week are, I am sure, so appreciated by those you are helping. Check out one of our past More Than Words recipients, Second Wind Dreams (www.secondwind.org). Perhaps some of the men and women at the facility you visit have a dream you could help fulfill?
Lisa, thank you for sharing your personal story. You and your mother are definitely amazing, strong women!
Kate, thanks for sharing this great information.
Donna, thanks so much for the writer’s perspective, and great to hear that MTW, Vol. 6 is a Pink Heart Pick! Happy reading.
For those who donate to or volunteer your time with registered charities and non-profits I hope you will tell them about the Harlequin More Than Words program; we’d love to see nominations come in from your favorite charities.
Keep up the good work everyone!