SPARK's 30 Year Anniversary Series, Part 2

People

First and foremost, I am grateful to Jim Sallis and Thom McKenzie. Jim and Thom are two of the finest human beings I have ever had the privilege of working with. They are brilliant, kind, humble, and hard-working. They are the founders of SPARK and remain its heart and soul. I am forever indebted to them for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something so special.

SPARK has always been a team effort. The '3 D's' — development, dissemination, and delivery — have been the backbone of SPARK's success. The development team has created the best PE curriculum in the world. The dissemination team has spread the word far and wide. The delivery team has trained thousands of teachers and reached millions of students. I am proud to have been a part of all three.

SPARK is a worldwide team effort. From the researchers and trainers who built the programs from the ground up, to the teachers who deliver them in gyms and playgrounds every day, to the partners and funders who made it all possible — SPARK is the product of countless dedicated people who believe that every child deserves quality physical education.

Places

SPARK has taken me to extraordinary places around the world. I have had the privilege of delivering workshops in China, Norway, Portugal, Saipan, Canada, and England, among others. Each experience deepened my appreciation for how universal the need for quality physical education truly is, and how the SPARK model could be adapted and embraced by cultures across the globe.

In the United States, I have been fortunate to bring SPARK to some remarkable communities. Among the highlights: working with the Catholic Diocese on Oahu, Hawaii; reaching students on the Navajo reservation; visiting the Nike campus to support the NikeGO and Let Me Play initiatives; partnering with Pittsburgh and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; presenting at the Share the Wealth conference on Jekyll Island, Georgia; working on gender equity initiatives in Burlington, Vermont; collaborating with Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona as part of the TAAG grant; supporting a public health campaign involving LeBron James in Akron, Ohio; and hosting Summer Institutes at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

On a deeply personal note, one of the greatest gifts SPARK ever gave me was the chance to meet my wife, Wendy. We met through SPARK in 1991, and she has been my partner in every sense of the word ever since. Some things are truly priceless.

Things

In 1993, we developed a business plan with the SDSU Foundation. Juanita Brents and Frank DiSanto were instrumental in helping SPARK establish the organizational structure that would allow it to grow and sustain itself beyond the initial federal funding.

In June 1994, the five-year NIH grant that had launched SPARK came to an end. At that moment, SPARK became self-sufficient under the SDSU Foundation umbrella, operating with a single employee and zero revenue. Looking back, it is remarkable that we survived — let alone thrived. By 2002, SPARK was earning approximately $700,000 annually as an SDSU nonprofit, a testament to the quality of the programs and the dedication of everyone involved.

In October 2002, we transferred the SPARK license to Pete Savitz and Sportime, which had been our equipment provider since 1989. This transition allowed SPARK to continue growing with a commercial partner who could invest in its distribution and reach.

In 2019, following an extensive nationwide vetting process, we transferred the SPARK license to Gopher Sport. The new leadership team — Julie Frank, Ryan Schissler, and Jeff Mushkin — brings fresh energy, deep expertise, and a genuine passion for SPARK's mission. Kymm Ballard joins as a consultant focused on Funding and Partnership Development, and we are grateful for the ongoing support of Todd Jennings, Matt Ginskey, and the entire Gopher team.

Today, SPARK stands as the most widely disseminated menu of physical education and physical activity programs in the world. That is not a small thing. It is the result of 30 years of work by an extraordinary community of people who refused to give up on the idea that every child deserves to move, to learn, and to thrive.

Jim, Thom, and I will serve on the SPARK Advisory Board going forward, and we look forward to supporting the next chapter of this remarkable journey.

So, I'll close by returning to that paraphrase of JFK: What can you do for SPARK? Whether you are a teacher, an administrator, a parent, a researcher, or simply someone who cares about the health of children — SPARK needs your support, your voice, and your passion. Ask not what SPARK can do for you. Ask what you can do for SPARK.