Runners' Stories
The Philanthropist: Nicholas Sparks
An author's generous donations of time and money transform a track program and its athletes.
by Adam Buckley Cohen Published: Oct 24, 2008
Millions know Nicholas Sparks as the best-selling author of books like Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and The Notebook. But in New Bern, North Carolina, the novelist is better known as benefactor and coach of a track program that has rapidly become one of the nation's finest. (Continue reading)
When Sparks's eldest son, Miles, began running in seventh grade, Sparks approached Dave Simpson—the coach of New Bern High School and Track Eastern Carolina, a local club team—about Miles joining the track club. Little did Simpson know that the boy's father would prove to be the best thing that ever happened to track and field in this small rural city.
"I remember one of our guys running out of gas" at a national meet after the club had been on the road for five days, Sparks says. "I asked him why, and he said he was hungry. I asked him when he'd last eaten. He said, 'Tuesday.' That was on a Sunday."
"I coach to bring these kids opportunities, to give them the chance to go on to college," says Sparks, who attended Notre Dame on a track scholarship. "Most of these kids are the first ones in their families ever to attend college."
Simpson says Sparks has become a "father figure" for numerous others, even after graduation. "The Sparkses are like my other set of parents," says Darryl Reynolds, who ran at New Bern and is now a junior at East Carolina University. "I used to stay at their house. I still talk to Nick at least five times a week."
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Within a few months, Sparks, 43, had donated nearly $900,000 toward a state-of-the-art track. Soon after, Sparks—a former 800-meter standout at Notre Dame—signed on as a volunteer assistant coach for the high school team and the club, most of whose runners come from low-income and at-risk families.
Sparks has done his best to ensure that his athletes would no longer face such obstacles, underwriting all meals on club road trips. He also spends weekday afternoons working with New Bern's middle-distance runners and hurdlers. And the results have been astonishing: Since Sparks became involved with the team four and a half years ago, New Bern High has won five state championships in indoor and outdoor track. At the 2008 Nike Indoor Nationals, Track Eastern Carolina won both the 4 x 800 and sprint medley relays and captured second in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400. During Sparks's tenure, more than 35 of the New Bern and club runners have earned collegiate track scholarships.
Sparks's commitment to his charges stretches far beyond the track. "His front door is open to our athletes all the time," Simpson says. The runners eat at his home. Swim in his pool. Play video games with Miles (now a junior and a 54-second 400-meter hurdler) and the other four Sparks children. Last year, Sparks and his wife, Cathy, fed 15 team members Christmas dinner.
Sparks sees the sport of track, not himself, as the hero of this real-life drama. "Without track and field, I wouldn't be where I am today," he says. "It taught me discipline and perseverance and paid my way through college. It changed my life, and I want it to change these kids' lives, too."
Video Credits:Producer: Brian D. SabinCamera and Edit: Peyote Perryman, Digital P MediaGraphics: Nicholas Vranizan
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