Sparks of Giving continues to shine
A huge fireworks display closed out the 2024 Sparks of Giving charity event.
The fourth annual Sparks of Giving on July 20 in the Bolivar-Zoar area was the most successful one so far, according to Kyle Quillen. Quillen and his wife Samantha founded the event as a way to bring the community together to support local businesses and charities.
“The whole intention is to celebrate our community and give to others,” Kyle Quillen said. “We support the local businesses, and they determine which charity they want to donate part of their proceeds to.”
It all started with a party and fireworks at the Quillens’ home in Lawrence Township. The first three Sparks events included a VIP fireworks watch area at the Quillens’ home with local businesses and organizations participating and promoting various watch areas.
This year the Quillens decided to open up the VIP party to the public at the Wilkshire Event Center, which they recently purchased along with the mini golf course. Festivities included inflatables for kids, food, mini golf and a petting zoo. Anyone who purchased a VIP ticket could attend.
An auction also was held in the event center, where those in attendance could bid on items such as Cleveland Browns and Cavs tickets, a helmet and jersey signed by Nick Chubb, golf at Brookside Country Club in Columbus, and a two-night cabin stay at Atwood Lake.
The Quillens also contributed a golf package from Wilkshire Golf Course just across Wilkshire Boulevard from the event center.
“Four years ago we bought the golf course and kept it a golf course,” Kyle Quillen said. “Having Sparks here this year gives us an opportunity to show people what they can do with the facilities.”
As an example, Kyle Quillen said the Chase Faiello Memorial Golf Outing was held at Wilkshire Golf Course. After the outing people gathered at the Wilkshire Event Center for dinner. “Those are the kind of things we can package together in a beneficial way for clients,” he said.
Speaking of the golf course, a free public watch party was set up in the parking lot, with the Tusky Valley Booster Club hosting and taking donations. The party included live music by the OGR Band, food trucks, inflatables and a beer garden.
Rebecca Congdon was in charge of the parking lot party. “We took donations, and the food trucks agreed to donate part of their proceeds to the booster club,” she said, adding the goal is to raise enough funds to purchase new LED stadium lights for the football field.
“People think we’re benefiting from this personally in some way, shape or form, and that’s just not happening,” Kyle Quillen said. “All of the money raised here will go to the Zoar View Foundation and will go to support local people, projects and organizations.”
The foundation has given scholarships to Tusky Valley students and has supported playground equipment for the Tuscarawas County YMCA and the Toys 4 Christmas drive.
“We live in a great place,” Kyle Quillen said. “Whether people like it or not, this exit is primed for growth. We’ve got great new school facilities, and you’re seeing investment happen here in a way that I think gets lost a lot of the time. Having events like Sparks brings revenue into the community too, and that’s a positive thing.”
“I think it’s cool the number of people who graduated from Tusky Valley, like the Marburgers, who own Lockport Brewery, and are investing in the community simply because we love it and don’t want to be anywhere else,” Samantha Quillen said.
Sparks of Giving ended with a fireworks display paid for by the Quillens for the community to enjoy. “We have been unbelievably blessed,” Kyle Quillen said. “So if we can take an evening, have fun and do some good, why not?”