In recognition of her dedication to children in Colorado, Kids First
Director Shirley Ritter has been given the Oliver/Nancy Swank Award for
outstanding service on behalf of youth. She started 25 years ago as the
director for the Little Red School House in Snowmass, before moving on
to form critical alliances in the valley — one of which was an
initiative that created a sales tax in Aspen for early childhood
education.

In addition to running Kids First, a valleywide nonprofit, Ritter has
served on numerous boards and committees, presently as the facilitator
for the Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Council and on the board
for Qualistar.

The Swank award originated in 1973 in recognition of the pair who
founded Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children. It’s
presented annually during a spring conference.

ACRA APPOINTS NONPROFIT SEAT

Cristal Logan, the community outreach director for the Aspen Institute,
has been named to the Aspen Chamber Resort Association board of
directors. She is filling the nonprofit seat in her one-year term.

Logan has been with the Institute for nine years, organizing events and
engaging both adults and youth in some of their programs. Prior, she
worked at the Aspen Valley Hospital and in Aspen Skiing Co.’s finance
department. In addition to her job at the Institute, she sits on the
Aspen Valley Hospital Community Advisory Committee and the Colorado
Mountain College Community Advisory Committee.

She replaces Lisa Consiglio of the Aspen Writers’ Foundation.