New Logo Tells Bal Swan's Story of Love, Inclusion, and Helping Children Soar

By Kristen Beckman

As Bal Swan Children’s Center prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2024 with a storybook-themed celebration in March, the center recently upgraded its brand to reflect a new chapter in its own story. The school’s colorful new logo features five elements, each of which represents a fundamental theme at Bal Swan. 

“We asked the designer to focus on how to visually represent our core values,” said Debbie Kunz, executive director of Bal Swan. “Our core values are really love (a sense of belonging and safety), inclusion, individualized learning, and interdisciplinary teaming (therapists and teachers working together).”

At the bottom of the logo, cradling all of the elements above it, is a large hand. Kunz said the open hand signifies staff and the community working together to both hold Bal Swan’s children safely but also serve as a launching pad for them to soar.

“It represents the adults around us in the world who are making the choice to love and support kids and see them thrive,” said Kunz.

Above the hand is a heart, which emphasizes the importance of social-emotional teaching and meeting kids in a place of emotional safety and belonging. Above the heart is an abstract figure of a person that is meant to recall the center’s previous logo but add a butterfly-like aspect and vertical energy to represent the goal of helping children thrive and soar.

Also included in the logo are mountains with the sun, which not only expresses the center’s pride in Colorado but also the hope of tomorrow. Just above the sun is a branch that conveys the growth Bal Swan is hoping to see over the next couple of years, in addition to the growth of children while they are students at Bal Swan.

The bright and varied colors are a striking visual representation that Bal Swan is a place for children, and that it is friendly, diverse, and works together with the community, said Kunz.

Fundraising

Bal Swan also celebrated a successful day of fundraising in December during Colorado Gives Day, an annual day of giving that raised more than $54 million for nonprofits across Colorado in

s Bal Swan Children’s Center prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2024 with a storybook-themed celebration in March, the center recently upgraded its brand to reflect a new chapter in its own story. The school’s colorful new logo features five elements, each of which represents a fundamental theme at Bal Swan.2023. Kunz described the giving directed toward the center as an outpouring of the community to support the work it does.

“I feel a lot of responsibility to be a good steward of the public funds that we receive,” said Kunz. “There's a cost to investing in young children, and there is a lot of evidence if we're looking from a business perspective that the investment is going to pay off. My philosophy is that these kids are worth it.”

Bal Swan Ball

Planning continues for the center’s primary fundraising event, the Bal Swan Ball. The 60th anniversary event is scheduled for March 2, 2024, at the Omni Interlocken Broomfield. Bal Swan invited its very first teacher to attend the event, and several longtime supporters and partners, including Dance Arts Studio, also will be on hand.

“It’s a storybook theme – ‘Our story starts with us’ – so we’re trying to reflect on our roots and honor our heritage and then also look forward,” said Kunz. “We’re really going to try to show the continuity of heart and community through the work that we’re doing.”

Among those sharing their stories about Bal Swan’s impact are families of students, including the mother of a young student who was born weighing less than 2 lbs. in December 2019 and facing a variety of developmental challenges. The teachers and therapists not only helped him adjust to attending school but have helped him thrive, and surrounded his family with support.

“Thirteen months after starting, my son is excited to come to school, loves learning from his teachers and peers, and is flourishing beyond my wildest dreams,” the student’s mother said. “When I tell him it is time for school, he runs to the door. He says ‘My school!’ the whole way to school. The team at Bal Swan has taken the time to create better relationships with my son than most of my family and friends.

“With all the amazing things Bal Swan has given my son, they also gave me the gift of community, support, and other moms going through all the things too just trying to give their kids the best chance at success.”