SPARK CENTENNIAL | The Business of Appreciation: Turning Good Intention into Meaningful Action

SPARK Centennial is the City of Centennial's six-month business accelerator program that provides Centennial small businesses a platform to share their expertise, create memorable customer experiences, and collaborate with fellow small entrepreneurs and businesses. This year's program is focused on turning ideas into action, helping businesses answer one key question: What project would you love to tackle for your business, but haven’t been able to because of time, budget or resource constraints? 

SPARK 2026 participant, Desiree Townsend, owner of Yay! Gifts and Cards, has answered this question in creating her event: The Business of Appreciation: Turning Good Intention into Meaningful Action on Thursday, August 27 from 5-7pm at The Village Work, Wellness, and Event Center. 

What if appreciation were treated as a practice—not just an occasional gesture? Join Desiree Townsend, Founder & Creative Director of Yay! Gifts and Cards, for an interactive community conversation about how intentional appreciation helps people feel seen, valued, and remembered. Through stories, practical examples, discussion, and reflection, participants will discover simple ways to turn good intentions into meaningful action at work, in organizations, and throughout the community.

Participants will leave with:

• A clearer understanding of how appreciation strengthens relationships, belonging, and community
• A simple way to identify appreciation opportunities they may be overlooking
• One meaningful action they can put into practice immediately

This event is open to everyone. Whether you lead a business, support an organization, serve your community, or simply believe people deserve to feel appreciated, you’ll leave with ideas you can use and share with others.
Come prepared to participate and leave ready to turn appreciation into action.