Kathleen T. Ownby As the executive director of the SPARK School Park Program, Kathleen Ownby has worked with corporate and community leaders since 1988 to raise more than $12 million for the renovation of Houston-area school parks. Besides fundraising, her role as executive director includes selecting park sites, and community groups, monitoring park construction and coordinating funding and budgets. There are currently 166 SPARK sites located in seven Houston area school districts. In addition to her work with SPARK, she is an active community volunteer. Kathleen is a member of St. Luke's UMC and serves on the Board of Stewards and is former member of the Community Service Committee. She is on the advisory boards of The Park People, and Trees for Houston. She serves on the governing board of Earth Share of Texas, the Texas State Urban Forestry Council, Women Professionals in Government, and is a founding board member of Friends of Westbury High School Foundation. Kathleen is a 1993 graduate of Leadership Houston and has received certification as a "Playground Safety Inspector." She earned a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences from the University of Houston in 1973.

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