Joan Sparkman was recently named recipient of the 2013 Community Heart Award by the Women’s Council of Realtors, Southwest Riverside County Chapter, for her outstanding contributions to the Temecula Valley. For more than 40 years, Sparkman has been an influential member of the community credited with helping shape the region’s business climate, advocate on behalf of education, healthcare and small businesses. and donate countless hours to local charities.
Though retired, Sparkman continues to serve as Chair of the Southwest Healthcare Systems Board of Governors, which operates the Inland Valley and Rancho Springs Medical Centers. Sparkman also serves on the Board of the newly opened Temecula Valley Hospital and is a Director of the Southwest California Legislative Council, of which she was a founding member. She has also served as a Mt. San Jacinto College trustee, a Temecula Valley Unified School District board member and in many other professional and volunteer roles throughout the southwest Riverside County community.
The Women’s Council was established in 1989 in Temecula to empower women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The award recognizes Sparkman’s “lifelong contributions in community, leadership, integrity and selflessness.”