Events & Media

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Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Spark Sugar Rush on Thursday, November 11th!

Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2010
Tickets on Sale Now! On November 11th, Spark will host its annual Sugar Rush fundraiser event, featuring desserts from some of San Francisco's finest restaurants, including Chez Panisse, Boulevard, Range, Millennium, Humphry Slocombe, Recchuiti Confections, Fifth Floor, and more! Join us for an evening of sweet treats, delicious drinks, and exciting silent auction items. All proceeds benefit Spark's youth apprenticeship programs.   ... Read on

Please Join us for our 2010 Spark Discovery Nights!

Posted on Thursday, 15 July, 2010
Discovery Night is Spark's graduation ceremony. You will have the opportunity to participate in interactive Spark student presentations where students teach back the new skills they have learned during their apprenticeships. Join us for these fun and inspiring events! San Francisco Presidio Middle School 450 30th Ave, San Francisco Thursday, July 22nd 5:30-8:30pm Redwood City McNair School Auditorium 2037 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo... Read on

Spark Featured in Ashoka's Blog!

Posted on Wednesday, 23 June, 2010
"The relationship between Ken and Carlos was established by Spark, an organization founded by Ashoka Fellow, Chris Balme. The Spark model aims to provide middle school students at greatest risk of dropping out with a personalized apprenticeship that gives them a fun and different learning experience in a new environment, allows them to develop tangible skills in an area of interest, and helps them see the relevance of their classroom lea... Read on

Please Join us for Spark Discovery Nights!

Posted on Thursday, 29 April, 2010
Discovery Night is Spark's graduation ceremony where students teach back the new skills they have learned during their apprenticeships through interactive presentations. Join us for these fun and inspiring events! San Francisco Denman Middle Tuesday, May 11th 6:00-8:30pm 241 Oneida Ave, San Francisco Presidio Middle School Wednesday, May 12th 6:00-8:30pm 450 30th Ave, San Francisco Redwood City Garfield School Tuesda... Read on

Announcing Spark's 5th Anniversary Campaign

Posted on Sunday, 21 February, 2010
  Spark's 5th Anniversary Campaign will provide the funds necessary to serve more at-risk youth in the Bay Area, launch programs in Los Angeles, and build the capacity for national expansion. We already have more than $600,000 in commitments from Spark supporters toward this $1,000,000 goal. Help us close the gap! function validateAmount(amount){if(amount.value.match( /^[0-9]+(\.([0-9]+))?$/)){return t ... Read on

Spark's Chris Balme Wins Prestigious Ashoka Fellowship!

Posted on Wednesday, 20 January, 2010
Chris Balme, Spark's Executive Director, recently won the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship, among the highest honors for social entrepreneurs in the world. In recognition of Spark's innovative approach to combating the dropout crisis, this award puts Spark among the leading nonprofits worldwide recognized for having innovative solutions to social problems, and the potential to change patterns across society. We are thrilled and humbled by this... Read on

Spark Executive Director Chris Balme Profiled in the SF Business Times!

Posted on Tuesday, 08 December, 2009
Spark ED Chris Balme was interviewed by SF Business Times reporter Sarah Duxbury regarding Spark's office issues, professional insights and introspections. A few article highlights:  Office Issues Recent challenge: Sustaining our funding during the course of this year has been a big challenge, though it has improved a lot in the last four or five months. But, the first half of the years was very difficult. Measures of success: How many... Read on

Spark Profiled in San Francisco Appeal!

Posted on Friday, 13 November, 2009
Sparking Confidence: Local Youth Apprenticeship Program Fights High Dropout Rates by Laura Hautala November 12, 2009 4:59 PM  High school dropout rates for America's kids are fodder for depressing thoughts. Nationwide, a full third of students do not graduate high school with a diploma, and 50% of African American and Latino students don't finish high school on time, according to dropout prevention group America's Promise Alliance. In... Read on

Please Join Us at the Third Annual Sugar Rush!

Posted on Tuesday, 22 September, 2009
Join us for a night of dessert tastings from local artisans, a silent auction, and cocktails to help support Spark's youth programs! Thursday, November 12th 7:00pm-9:00pm 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco Featuring desserts from: Boulevard Chez Panisse Humphry Slocombe Michael Mina Millennium Range Recchiuti Confections Sibby's Cupcakery Spruce and more! 100% of the proceeds from Sugar Rush go to support Spark's youth apprentic... Read on

I Scream, You Scream! Join Spark & Recchiuti for an Ice Cream Social!

Posted on Friday, 07 August, 2009
Join Recchitui on August 22nd for an Ice Cream Social in Potrero Hill to benefit Spark! 100% of the proceeds will benefit Spark's youth apprenticeship programs. In addition to hosting the Ice Cream Social, Recchiuti Confections is also hosting a Spark apprentice in their kitchen this summer! Sponsor Gino's Apprenticeship! Visit the Recchiuti website to purchase tickets and learn more about this sweet event!  Read on

Spark is Currently Enrolling Students for Summer 2009!

Posted on Thursday, 11 June, 2009
APPLY NOW! We are starting our summer sessions and are currently enrolling students.  We are also seeking dedicated, inspirational Apprentice Teachers! STUDENTS: For Student applications (ENGLISH/SPANISH) please contact Jennifer Bloomer, (415) 626-5470, x112. PARENTS: If you would like to give you child the opportunity to learn about their dream career, then Spark summer is for you!  This is a chance to connect with a caring profes... Read on

Please join us at our Annual Dream Builders Breakfasts!

Posted on Friday, 15 May, 2009
Spark’s annual Dream Builders Breakfast brings together the Spark community to celebrate the empowering experiences we’ve provided to middle school students over the last year, and to build enthusiasm around our ambitious goals. Proceeds from this year’s breakfast will help match 250 Bay Area students with life-changing apprenticeships in 2009. We invite you to share in our success and hear some of our student's remarkable st... Read on

Celebrate Apprenticeships in Action at Spring Discovery Nights!

Posted on Monday, 13 April, 2009
Please join us for Discovery Nights this spring to check out what Spark students and Apprentice Teachers have been up to this session. Discovery Night is the graduation celebration for Spark students, and a chance for them to teach back what they have learned during their apprenticeships. Students share their knowledge, do hands-on demonstrations and present pictures and stories from their experiences. Whethe... Read on

Spark Offices Move to Potrero Hill!

Posted on Monday, 23 February, 2009
Spark has grown so rapidly due to need and demand for our services that we outgrew our original offices at the historic Women's Building in the San Francisco Mission District. We are now located at: 251 Rhode Island Street, #205, San Francisco, CA 94103. Our phone numbers have remained the same. Read on

Spark Wins International Award!

Posted on Friday, 19 September, 2008
Spark Wins Prestigious Draper Richards Fellowship Spark has received one of the top awards for non-profits in the world, the Draper Richards Fellowship. In a global search, the Draper Richards Foundation chose Spark as one of the four highest-growth/highest-potential non-profits. Founded by legendary venture capitalists Bill Draper and Robin Richards, the Draper Richards Foundation awards 4-6 Fellowships annually to provide financial suppor... Read on

Spark is featured in the San Mateo County Daily Journal!

Posted on Tuesday, 12 August, 2008
"Sparking real-life interest" by Spark Volunteer, Mentor and Apprentice Teacher Heather Murtagh Read on

Spark wins the Jefferson Award!

Posted on Tuesday, 10 June, 2008
We're delighted to announce that Spark has received the Bay Area's Jefferson Award for Public Service, recognizing Spark's innovative approach and growing impact on youth in the Bay Area. For more information, click "more" below this line for links to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle and a TV story from CBS 5 news. Thank you to everyone in the Spark community who makes Spark's programs possible!   1. Spark in the... Read on

Spark's First "Sugar Rush" A Great Success

Posted on Saturday, 10 November, 2007
Our first annual Sugar Rush dessert event was a great success, attracting over 200 guests in San Francisco and raising thousands of dollars for Spark scholarships! Our guests enjoyed sampling everything from chocolate-basil s'mores from Michael Mina, to quince panna cotta from A16, and chocolate truffles from Coco-luxe, Boulevard, XOX truffles, and Michael Mischer Chocolates. In addition, several lucky guests won auction items such as private ... Read on