East Lansing woman who started RicStar music camp named one of 10 'Women of Worth' by L'Oreal Paris

EAST LANSING -- Judy Winter was working toward a career as an on-air talk show host when life made other plans for her.

Winter, a Michigan State University communications grad who held various roles at WKAR, put her career on hold when she experienced the traumatic birth of her second child, Eric, in 1990. Eric was diagnosed with cerebral palsy that affected his speech and movement.

“It was one of the most difficult career decisions of my life and the right one,” she said. “It opened up a whole new career and path for me because I chose my son.”

Winter’s efforts to help families with children with special needs are now being recognized nationally.

On Tuesday, L’Oreal Paris, the world’s largest cosmetics company, named Winter, a speaker, advocate and author, as one of 10 “Women of Worth” across the country.

After Eric’s birth, Winter devoted herself to flipping the script on kids with disabilities – getting people to focus on children’s abilities not their disabilities. She wrote a parenting book that won national praise.

Grief inspired music camp

When Eric died unexpectedly at age 12, her life took yet another turn as she found a way to deal with her grief by honoring his legacy.

Eric had a passion for music and attended music therapy classes at Michigan State University’s Community Music School, where he composed songs.

“It’s one of the best things you can do for your child, especially if they have a disability. The power of music is real,” Winter said.

Eric lived “incredibly joyfully," Winter said  She called him the “most loving, wise little soul.”

“I know he would have wanted us to honor his life and legacy in the same joyful, positive way that he lived his life,” she said.

Winter and her husband, Dick, along with Cindy Edgerton, Community Music School's director of music therapy clinical services, established a summer music camp called “Eric ‘RicStar’ Winter Music Therapy Camp."

"RicStar" was Eric's nickname.

RicStar’s camp, which runs each June has served 1,500 campers of all ages with the help of close to 1,000 volunteers. Many of the campers attend the three-day program on scholarships.

It was RicStar’s camp that won the attention of the L’Oreal judges.

Chance at $25,000

The award brings cash — $10,000 per each winner — and a chance at an additional $25,000 for the one of the 10 honorees who earns the most votes online.

You can vote for Winter once a day until Nov. 15 at www.WomenofWorth.com.

“The public gets to play a role, which is cool,” Winter said.

Winter nominated herself for the Women of Worth award, which is encouraged by the contest.

It’s been a long process. In April, she was first notified via email that she made the top 50, then the top 30, at which point she responded with more information. On July 11, she got a call that she had made the top 10.

She had to keep it under wraps until Tuesday, when the winners were announced and online voting started.

The award brings a December trip to New York City, where the women will be honored at a celebrity-studded gala. Last year, presenters at the gala included Julianne Moore, Eva Longoria, Amber Heard, Andie MacDowell, Hoda Kotb and Dr. Oz.

Winter said she feels Eric's presence watching over.

“I kind of think Eric is in charge of all of it,” she said about the award. “I think he’s real proud.”

Judy Putnam is a columnist with the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at (517) 267-1304 or at jputnam@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @judyputnam.

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