The Spara Capital team joined with members of its portfolio companies; Spark Power (comprised of team members from Spark Solar, AGRIS Solar and Northwind Solutions) recently, in a unique and fun approach to corporate social responsibility they’ve affectionately called “volun-teaming”.
For the past four years, Spara Capital Partners and Spark Power Corp have supported Unity For Autism’s annual golf tournament and gotten behind the event in traditional and some unconventional ways. They have provided cash sponsorships; they’ve entered the tournament as players; and encouraged their network of clients and friends to sponsor and play. However, Spara/Spark Power’s most significant and unique contribution has involved the volunteer participation of some 30 members of the Spara/Spark Power team as tournament volunteers.
Together the Spara/Spark Power contingent close their offices to assist tournament organizers in all areas; from greeting guests on arrival; to managing on-course activities and events; to hustling guests to buy raffle tickets at the after-party.
“The group from Spara Capital and Spark Power are a significant asset to the tournament,” said Kathy Carsley, Founder of Unity for Autism. “They are a huge part of the event’s success providing both horsepower and gigantic energy. Spara and Spark Power were responsible for a significant number of new golfers and sponsors at this year’s tournament,” she added.
Jason Sparaga, founder of Spara Capital and Co-CEO of Spark Power, who is also a Unity For Autism Board Member recalls how the initiative came together.
“At Spara and Spark Power we try to be responsible corporate citizens and have always encouraged our team to do the same on individual levels. We encourage them to share their skills, expertise and energy with not for profit groups in the community,” said Sparaga.
“When tournament organizers suggest getting volunteers as a major headache each year, our teams jumped into action and came to us with a plan to volunteer ‘en masse’. It is one of the most fun days of the year at our shop and has become a huge team builder. Our people are the first to arrive to the event and last to leave. They are hard to miss with their volume and energy and without question a big part of what’s great about the tournament” he added.
“I’ve gotten to know Unity for Autism and Kathy over the last 4 years. Her leadership and vision bring dollars and focus to this important issue. Autism is a cause that I support personally and it was easy to feel good about helping such a committed and efficient organization,” Sparaga continued.
The annual golf tournament is a major fundraiser for Unity For Autism. The organization, founded by Carsley, with John Tory as the Honorary Chairman, is a highly-efficient, volunteer-driven charity that raises money for the Autism community across Canada. In the past 10 years the organization has raised close to $4 million for more than 100 community groups.
For more information on Unity for Autism visit www.unityforautism.ca
