It’s October! This is the one time a year that all Golden Key chapters come together under one mission and impact lives in their communities all at the same time.
SPARK a Change is only a year old, so here are some Frequently Asked Questions about SPARK Month to assist you in participating in this exciting and impactful opportunity.
SPARK Month FAQ’s:

1. Why is it in October?
   The month of October worked the best with all of our chapters’ school schedules.
2. Why do we need to do a SPARK project in October?
   Being a Society means we are together under one mission; we feel that harnessing the power of our members in a specific time period can create impactful change in the communities and bring our chapters together under one cause.
3. We don’t have enough time to organize our own event this month. What should we do?
   No problem!  Google some volunteer opportunities in your community or better yet on your campus.  Team up with other organizations who have already done all the logistical planning and just need the man power. Reminder: be sure the activity aligns with literacy, education and/or real-world preparedness.  If you have questions on the appropriateness of an event email Katie Hiatt at khiatt@goldenkey.org.
4. I don’t understand SPARK a Change or SPARK month.
   There are numerous documents and helpful tools on the chapter toolkit.  Ask a chapter officer to email you the documents from the toolkit.
5. We want to do online fundraising for our project, will that work?
   Yes!  You can create an email campaign and send this link and remind them to select “SPARK a Change”.
6. Can I volunteer individually for SPARK month?
   Yes! Email your chapter officer after you volunteer and they can record your service hours.
7. Is there anything I have to do after the event?
   Yes – please make sure one of the chapter officers has registered your event on the Golden Key website and you can apply for our SPARK a Change Chapter Award! Find out more here.

SPARK Month is this October – in less than four weeks! Officers, don’t forget to register your chapter’s #SPARKaChange event! Members, please participate in impacting and improving the lives of at-risk youth!
As of 1 September, chapters have dedicated 40,007 hours, touched the lives of 39,430 people and raised $10,310 towards SPARK a Change since its launch in July 2014. These collective actions are impacting the lives of youth around the globe and helping us to reach our goal!
Follow #SPARKaChange on social media. Be sure to follow Golden Key on Facebook and Twitter as well as SPARK on Instagram for articles on the benefits of volunteering and posts featuring great SPARK events. If you think your chapter has a great event, please email your event details and pictures to: khiatt@goldenkey.org.
September Featured Service Project:
This month’s featured service project is from Norfolk State University.  The chapter has a long standing project called “NSU GK’s Spark The Future Initiative.” The chapter collaborates with the Virginia Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy’s Mentoring and Tutoring Program. The partnership has been going strong for three years. The Academy is a program that targets youth ages 16-18 who are at the greatest risk of dropping out of high school.  This program assists those students in obtaining their high school diploma or GED and preparing them for life after graduation.
Due to the success of the collaboration, the NSU chapter has been asked to merge with a new project that will help to mentor students who choose to enroll in Norfolk State University and ensure that they keep up with the academic standards with hope to help the students become inducted into Golden Key.