Southern Colorado Family Leaves Legacy of Hope for Children with Cerebral Palsy
July 16, 2025
John and Karla Balk’s support for families affected by cerebral palsy began with the loss of their son, Nathan, in 1992, just five months after he was born. After experiencing a lack of accessible resources for children with disabilities, they were inspired to make a difference.
Impact in Perpetuity
Although Children’s Colorado did not provide care for Nathan, the Balks, who live in Colorado Springs, became involved with the hospital through friends who worked at Children’s Colorado in and around Colorado Springs. Over the years, they have made annual donations and participated in the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour.
Interested in learning more about the hospital’s vision for cerebral palsy care, they met with Susan Apkon, MD, Fischahs Chair in Pediatric Rehabilitation and Co- Director of the Neuromuscular Clinic.
Dr. Apkon’s research is focused on providing novel treatments to children with neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Over the last 15 years, she has been involved in clinical trials, some of which have led to FDA-approved drugs that are changing the course of pediatric neuromuscular diseases.
The Balks were encouraged by Dr. Apkon’s vision for research and care and decided to establish the Balk Family Endowed Fund to support cerebral palsy research.
Rising to the Challenge
When the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation offered a planned giving challenge in 2024, the Balks were inspired to revisit their estate plans and update their future gift documentation.
Initiated by Betsy Searle, Past Chair of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation’s Board of Trustees, the challenge was intended to motivate supporters to document planned gifts. Donors who documented new (or increased) planned gifts of $100,000 or more unlocked a $10,000 gift from Betsy that could be directed by the donor to support the hospital’s mission today.
For the Balks, deciding to designate a percentage of their donor-advised fund to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation was an easy way to realize their philanthropic goals while planning for their children and grandchildren as well.
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle coordination, caused by brain damage that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. Symptoms can vary widely and may include difficulty with motor skills, balance and posture. The
condition is often diagnosed in early childhood, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms through therapy, medication and sometimes surgery. While there is no cure, early intervention can help improve function and quality of life.