It is with great honor and gratitude in my heart to open up nominations for the 2010 Spark Award. For you see, the Spark award warms my heart until tears form in my eyes because it is in memory of my dear friend Alison Bleak Sparks. Alison passed in April 2009 from complications from a brain tumor.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her. If I were to nominate someone for this award, I would nominate her. She always believed in me (and still does). She was one of my biggest cheerleaders. She, herself, was unstoppable, positive, committed and courageous.

Nominate a woman in your life who has made a difference and continue Alison’s light to shine on as we honor women for years and generations to come. Through this movement of empowered women we are creating, we will literally impact millions of lives. it starts now. It starts today. It starts with us.

Nomination details are here. Nominations will be accepted through November 30, 2009.

Thank you for supporting the greatness that resides within every single person on the planet. Thank you for being a part of Illuminated Woman. It’s an honor to meet you here.

In Gratitude,
Angela – Illuminated Woman CEO and Founder

Our Illuminated Woman of the Year Spark award has been truly inspired. Many people have contributed their generous support and vision to Illuminated Woman. One woman in particular is Alison Bleak Sparks, whom the Spark award is named after. Alison has bold courage to live life fully. Her humor, talent and pure joy instantaneously lights up a room. She is a no-nonsense kind of woman who does what ever it takes to reach her goals. Nothing gets in her way.

Last year she and I talked about events we would do to empower women and create communities of empowered women; these communities would change the world. These communities would make the difference for millions.

Alison’s life was cut short due to complications from a brain tumor and in April 2009 she passed away, before she could see the fruition of Illuminated Woman. So it is her memory that we honor women for years and generations to come, to carry forth her spirit and commitment to live an illuminated life. Her vision and energy is in every aspect of Illuminated Woman and it is with great honor that we carry on her tradition with our Illuminated Woman of the Year Spark award. This inaugural award will be given on August 29 during the awards gala of the 2009 Ignite Your Spark Annual Conference. Also in Alison’s honor, will be our Spark Scholarships that will be awarded in spring 2010.

So Alison, the Spark Award and Spark Scholarships are dedicated to you. For your light, your strength, never complaining once – EVER. Thank you for being a light in this world.