Borders®, Mitch Albom, And CBS News’ “The Early Show” Announce Winner Of “Times Mom Stood Up For Me” Writing Competition On Gather.com

Borders Group, Mitch Albom, and CBS News’ “The Early Show” today announce the grand prize winner in the “Times Mom Stood Up For Me” writing competition on Gather.com, the leading social media site for adults. Designed to celebrate moms for Mother’s Day, Mitch Albom, the acclaimed author of “For One More Day,” published by Hyperion in fall 2006, announced the grand prize winner, Sandra Kelps, a resident of Elmhurst Illinois, on CBS’s “The Early Show” this morning. Sandra’s story was chosen from over 1000 entries, which were submitted on Gather.com at http://borders.gather.com.

The Gather.com community selected the ten highest ranked finalists, from which Albom picked Sandra’s as the grand prize winner. In addition to appearing with Albom on today’s Early Show, Sandra received a seven-night cruise vacation for two from Royal Caribbean International.

“My mom was always my biggest supporter,” said Sandra Kelps. “I am so happy that I entered this contest—it has been the best way I could honor her memory.”

“The essays we received were all so moving and inspiring,” Mitch Albom said. “Sandra’s story is a shining example of the love, faith and sacrifice a mother gives her child.”

“This contest has generated countless threads of engaging discussion around the unique bond that forms between a mother and her child,” said Tom Gerace, Founder and CEO, Gather.com. “We are grateful to see that it has encouraged so many of our members to think about Mother’s Day in a new way.”

“This competition has been a terrific way to help our members celebrate Mother’s Day,” said Borders Group Chief Marketing Officer Michael Tam. “The response has been extremely positive and we look forward to launching similar competitions in the future.”