Alice Sparks Receives Philanthropy Award
Northern Kentucky - September 14, 2011 - The Northern Kentucky Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation presented Ft. Mitchell resident Alice Sparks with the Devou Cup at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner last night.
The Devou Cup was created in 2004 to honor a donor who has made a profound difference in the quality of community life in Northern Kentucky, today and tomorrow. The award was named The Devou Cup in honor of the generosity exemplified by William Devou, 19th century philanthropist.
As a leader in business, education and politics, Alice Sparks has left her mark on Kentucky. Her long commitment to community service began when she was a young intern to Kentucky’s First Lady Mildred Chandler in the mid 1950s. She also met her late husband, D. Joseph Sparks, during this time. After marrying, they moved to Northern Kentucky and had two children, John and Sally.
Sparks has a history of supporting education in Kentucky.
“She has a reputation in the region and the state for giving generously of her time, talent and treasure to causes that help others,” said Mike Hammons, executive director of the Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative and Northern Kentucky Fund Advisory board member.
Sparks joined the Northern Kentucky Board (NKU) of Regents in 1992 and served for two years as chair, the first woman to do so at any state university in the Commonwealth. During her tenure at NKU, she witnessed incredible growth and an enrollment that exceeded 12,000 students.
Sparks also played a key role in helping NKU to acquire funding for a $38 million science center in 1998. In 1994, she made a $1.1 million deferred gift to NKU's "Embrace Opportunity" capital campaign.
She has also served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Kentucky and Thomas More College.
Sparks has long been involved in the local and state Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) and for six years served as the legislative chair of the state PTA, during which time the landmark Kentucky Educational Reform Act was passed.
Her interest in education also extends to her activities at WCET, Greater Cincinnati’s public television station, where she was a member of the community advisory committee and completed a six-year term as a trustee.
Sparks, is the founder of SSK Co., a real-estate company specializing in manufactured home communities. Her many accolades include being named a "Woman of the Year" by The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1995; Northern Kentucky "Woman of the Year" in 1999; she received the Charles W. Vaughan Award from CET in 1997; NKU’s Lincoln Award in 2002 and the first Two Headed Calves Award from the Behringer-Crawford Museum in 2011.