About
Small Acts. Lasting Impact.
Our Vision
We are rooted in the belief that one meaningful experience can shift a young person’s perspective and potentially their life path.
Why We Do It
Extensive research highlights the challenges many young people face today – especially those from underserved communities with limited access to enriching opportunities and supportive relationships.
At Aspen Spark, we believe that even brief, kindness-centered experiences can provide meaningful breaks from these pressures. These moments help young people build optimism, resilience, and fresh perspectives that support their emotional growth and wellbeing.
- Limited Access to Experiences: Many youth, especially those experiencing unstable housing, lack enriching opportunities and positive adult relationships. (Search Institute 2020)
- Cultural Negativity: Youth grow up often surrounded by divisive and discouraging messaging instead of positive, possibility-focused narratives.
- High Youth Loneliness Rate: 79% of teens and young adults report feeling isolated. (Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index 2023)
- Systemic Inequities: Economic and social disparities significantly restrict opportunities for youth to engage in extracurricular, social, and learning activities critical for resilience and growth. (The Annie E. Casey Foundation)
- Equity in Opportunity: Ensuring all youth, regardless of background, have equitable access to learning and enrichment activities critical for community wellbeing and youth success. (Aspen Institute, Rethinking Access Initiative)
About
Aspen Spark was born from a family legacy of service and a belief that every young person deserves a moment that sparks something great. Read Our Story →
Aspen Spark was founded by Mark Kimsey, whose commitment to service runs deep. His father spent decades supporting education-focused nonprofits for children in need — including building a school and orphanage in Vietnam after his military service. That legacy of giving became a guiding light for Mark and his brothers, Michael and Ray, inspiring each to carry it forward in their own way.
An investment banker turned film and television producer, Mark has always believed in the power of a great story to change lives. That belief took a pivotal turn in 2017, when he met Sal Khan at the Aspen IDEAS Festival and was introduced to Khan Academy’s revolutionary vision — world-class education, free and accessible to anyone with a phone or laptop. Mark was moved, and a new idea began to take shape — helping amplify that vision through conversations with Aspen Institute leaders.
From that spark, Aspen Spark was born. Today, the organization continues to explore new ways to ignite curiosity and learning — creating life-changing experiences and educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.