
Some of you may remember that I wrote about this in my journal right after I heard about it. Now, FictionAlley has set up a scholarship program in honor of this fanfiction writer and I couldn't be happier!
(from FictionAlley.org)
In March of 2005, one of FictionAlley's longtime writers lost her battle with leukemia. Even while she was in the hospital fighting against her illness, she continued to find strength as she wrote her story, assisted by her father, Dave O'Brien. As her father said, "Katie always wanted to be a writer, and she used this forum [FictionAlley] to fulfill her dreams. Correspondence with those who read and enjoyed her story sustained her even during the worst of times."
Katie finished writing her story six days before she died; her father has continued to upload those chapters onto FictionAlley through the spring.
When we at FictionAlley learned that Katie had passed, we realised that the best way we, as a site, could honour her memory would be to provide other writers, as well as artists and those who give back to the community, with some help in making their dreams come true, so with the permission of Katie's family, we are in the process of establishing a scholarship fund in Katie's name. That's why the first $4500 in profit raised from sales of these wristbands will go to fund the first three years of the Katie O'Brien Memorial Scholarships - in 2006, we plan to award one for writing, one for art, and one for community service; each recipient will receive $500 (US) from FictionAlley to use towards his or her education.
You can order wristbands by clicking on the icon above; if you order by June 5, your wristband will be sent to you by July 5, which means you should have it in hand to wear to the HBP bookstore of your choice. We're also going to have the wristbands available at some of the HBP book parties that FA staffers will be attending - those will cost $5.00 each - and we'll have a list of the locations available shortly.