Saratoga Springs woman honored for work on Kelly’s Angels

Jenny Sparano, a member of the all-volunteer board of Kelly’s Angels, the Wilton-based charity NewsChannel 13’s Mark Mulholland founded to help kids who’ve lost a parent to cancer, is the Capital Region’s top recipient of the Jefferson Awards for 2023.

Members of Kelly’s Angels surprised Sparano with the good news – Publishers Clearing House-style – at her Saratoga Springs home.

Sparano has volunteered with Kelly’s Angels since 2018 and joined the board in 2020. She’s the driving force behind the charity’s recent addition of Hugs for Ukraine, which provides grants to Ukrainian children and families who’ve emigrated to the Capital Region to escape the war.

Sparano – who is always humble – had to be talked into even being nominated.

She is also the volunteer producer of “The Up Beat,” a podcast From Kelly’s Angels which highlights local people who persevere in the face of adversity.

See her reaction to the big honor by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.