Spark Ventures
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Spark Ventures invests in sustainable solutions that empower communities around the world.
www.sparkventures.org - Spark Ventures builds partnerships that lift communities out of poverty. We direct human and financial resources to partners around the world to provide health, education and jobs. By focusing our resources in areas of business, job creation and capacity building, we seek to have lasting and sustainable impact.
08/07/2026
Happy to our extraordinary Board of Directors!
Your dedication, guidance, and passion fuel Spark’s mission and directly expand the reach of our partner organizations. Thank you for your leadership and unwavering commitment to investing in a future where our partner communities have the resources, tools, and opportunities to thrive.
Scott Barbeau, Co-founder
Rich Johnson, Co-founder
Daniel Marcus, Co-founder, Director Emeritus
Constance Benrud, Chair
Julie Cook, Vice Chair
Tumsheen Qureshi, Treasurer
Carol Thompson, Secretary
Kristin Schrepferman, Executive Director
Sue Bernstein
Michael Campbell
Doak Elliott
Jennifer Kim
Lisa Madonia
Ramon Munoz
Patti O'Neil
Hannah Prevost-Schultz
Leon Reed
Julie Tafel Klaus
Kathy Campbell Wolf
Thank you for your dedication to our partners and all the work you do to help empower communities around the globe! 🌍
08/05/2026
Thank you for investing in Englewood Strong!
Our ""Englewood Strong: Breaking Barriers & Growing Futures"" campaign has ended, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed. Together, we raised nearly $7,000 to invest in We Grow Chicago's Englewood Strong program.
In West Englewood, barriers are often found in the details of daily life. It's an unreliable internet connection that keeps a student from submitting classwork or a missing state ID that delays access to employment, housing, or essential services.
Whatever the challenge may be, Englewood Strong meets residents where they are, providing personalized support, essential resources, and skill-building opportunities that help individuals and families navigate those barriers and move towards greater stability and opportunity.
Thank you for helping keep Englewood Strong!
08/04/2026
Happy to our founding partner, Hope Community School in Zambia! 🇿🇲
Since the beginning of our partnership, Hope has continued to uplift and empower its community in many ways. From providing daily meals to innovative programming to expanding educational opportunities year after year, Hope now serves over 550 students from Pre-K through Grade 12 graduation.
We truly appreciate all the ways Hope empowers its students and creates opportunities for them to learn, grow, and build bright futures.
This week, we'll be highlighting just a few of the many ways Hope is making an impact within its community! Stay tuned as we celebrate and Hope!
08/03/2026
⏰ LAST CALL TO REGISTER! ⏰
This Friday, August 7th is the final day to secure your spot for our Mexico Impact Travel Experience!
If you’ve been thinking about joining us in San Pancho from November 5–8, 2026, now is the time to register. Don't miss out on 4 incredible days of:
🇲🇽 Meaningful, hands-on connection with our local partner, Entreamigos
🌴 Beautiful boutique accommodations
🍽️ Authentic local cuisine
✨ Experiencing travel that truly gives back to the community
Bonus: First-time Spark travelers get a $100 credit applied toward their final trip payment when registering!
Registration closes this Friday, and spots are limited. Grab your spot before Friday at sparkventures.org/mexico-impact-travel/
✨Every August, we pause to reflect and say: THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU 💐
To every donor, advocate, Impact Traveler, volunteer, event attendee, social media supporter, and champion of Spark Ventures, thank you! Whether you've invested your time, talent, or treasure, you are an essential part of our community.
Your contributions are helping Hope Community School, Las Tías, Entreamigos, and We Grow Chicago transform lives in their communities every single day. 💛
This month, we're celebrating YOU. Your generosity helps our partners serve more meals, fill more classrooms with eager learners, discover new opportunities for young people, and provide families with the support they need. Together, you're helping create lasting change. 🌍💫
This video was taken during last month’s trip to Zambia. It features students from the Hope Community School choir singing a song that says, “Being at Hope School for many years, loving one another is what we do”. We couldn't think of a more fitting way to begin a month dedicated to gratitude.
07/31/2026
Help us raise the final $3000 to reach our fundraising goal for Englewood Strong!
Today is the 🚨FINAL DAY🚨 to support our ""Englewood Strong: Breaking Barriers & Growing Futures"" fundraising campaign. This campaign is rooted in community, recognizing the strengths, skills, and resilience already present in West Englewood while helping remove barriers that stand in the way of opportunity.
On We Grow Chicago's Peace Campus, you can find neighbors and community members uplifting each other through emotional intelligence classes, skill building workshops, essential resource distribution, community events, and so much more. Through personalized support, Englewood Strong meets residents where they are and empowers them move from surviving to thriving.
Be a part of the final $4000 raised! Today is your last chance to invest in this community-led work and help break down barriers for West Englewood residents.
Donate today at sparkventures.org/englewoodstrong-fundraiser/ and keep Englewood Strong!
07/30/2026
📢 TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY! We only need $4,000 more to reach our $10,000 goal! 📢
Our Englewood Strong campaign with We Grow Chicago is coming to a close, and every single donation right now brings us closer to making a lasting impact.
Every day, families and individuals in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood face critical obstacles—from food and housing insecurity to limited access to job training and transportation. Through Englewood Strong, residents receive personalized support to break down these barriers, gain vital business skills, and build a clear path toward long-term financial independence.
We are so close to reaching our $10,000 target, but we can’t do it without you. A gift of $50, $100, or $250 today will directly empower neighbors in our community to build brighter, more secure futures.
⏳ Time is almost up! Help us raise the remaining $4,000 before tomorrow!
👉 Donate now to make your impact at sparkventures.org/englewoodstrong-fundraiser/
07/29/2026
⏰ ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO DONATE! ⏰ And remember, your donation has TWICE the impact with the matching gift.
The Englewood Strong fundraiser is coming to a close, and every dollar donated supports meaningful change, helping break down the systemic barriers families and individuals in West Englewood face on a daily basis.
Your donation directly powers local initiatives that provide essential resources, business skills training, employment opportunities, and personal empowerment programs. Together, we can help ensure long-term stability and economic mobility for our Chicago neighbors.
We are so close to our goal, and your support right now matters more than ever!
✨ Help us reach $10,000 before time runs out at sparkventures.org/englewoodstrong-fundraiser/
07/28/2026
Join Spark Ventures for an unforgettable, 4-day Impact Travel experience to the beautiful coastal town of San Pancho, Mexico! This is an opportunity to make meaningful connections with community leaders, experience a rich local culture, and see sustainable, grassroots impact in action with our partner, Entreamigos.
What’s in store for you:
✨ Immersive engagement with local community and youth programs
✨ Boutique accommodations and delicious meals
✨ Local artisan shops, a craft brewery, and beautiful beaches
🗓️ Trip Dates: November 5–8, 2026
🚨 Registration Deadline: August 7, 2026
🎁 First-time traveler? Get a $100 credit toward your final trip payment when you sign up!
Spaces are limited, so grab your spot now at sparkventures.org/mexico-impact-travel/
07/27/2026
🚨We are in the FINAL WEEK of our Englewood Strong campaign!🚨 It's also the final chance to DOUBLE YOUR DOLLARS with the matching gift.
Every day, residents in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood navigate challenges ranging from food insecurity to employment and transportation barriers. Through the community-led Englewood Strong program, residents receive personalized support to navigate these obstacles, from building job skills through community workshops to directly addressing transportation challenges. The Greater Englewood Toastmasters club meets twice a month to support residents as they sharpen their communication skills, build confidence, and connect with the community!
We're on the way to reaching our $10,000 fundraising goal, but we need your support! Whether you give $25, $50, or $100, your support directly empowers local individuals and families to grow brighter, more resilient futures. ⏳ Time is running out—make your impact before the campaign closes!
👉 Donate today at sparkventures.org/englewoodstrong-fundraiser/
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1501 N Oakley Boulevard , #214
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