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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, November 6, 2009 10:34 PM CST
Sparks picked to help lead Mattoon YMCA

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — The local YMCA has a new executive director with strong hometown ties.

Tony Sparks is a native of Mattoon, a Millikin University and Eastern Illinois University alumnus with accounting and business administration degrees, a businessman with Electric Laboratories and Sales Corporation, and a private investor. He is an active community volunteer and has also helped the Mattoon Area Family YMCA with planning for a major expansion of the current facility.

Sparks was one of 60 applicants for the position made vacant by the resignation this year of long-time executive director Michael Wall.

“Tony saw an ad for the position in the Journal Gazette and applied. After the interview and discussions we felt he would be a pretty good fit for us. We are delighted to have him,” said Michelle Lensink, president of the Mattoon Y’s board of directors.

The hiring was announced Thursday to YMCA staff, Lensink said. Sparks will start in his position later this month.

The Mattoon Y is in the midst of a capital campaign with $3 million of its $6 million goal raised so far. Sparks is expected to be an asset to the Y with his leadership skills and commitment to volunteerism.

The list of his volunteer activities and organizations is long: Mattoon Community Food Center; Coles County Emergency Food and Shelter board; Eastern Illinois Food Bank; Broadway Christian Church — certified financial counseling volunteer; American Red Cross, Mattoon chapter; Mattoon Pride Softball, Inc.; Illini Swish AAU Basketball; Boy Scouts of America; and Mattoon Girls Softball Association.

About the only thing that has slowed Sparks down recently is knee surgery. He is completing a recovery in time for starting at the YMCA by Nov. 23.

The local Y will be changing considerably with its expansion in the near future. Lensink said the organization’s leadership believes Sparks will be vital in that transition period.

“Tony will be an important part of our renovation,” she said.

For more information on the Mattoon Area Family YMCA and its activities, plus its fund drive, call 217-235-9622 or log on to www.mattoonymca.org.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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