Our First Color Run Was Everything We Hoped It Would Be
Smart Beginnings Academy · Kirk & Butterfield Campus
On a bright June morning, something special happened at Smart Beginnings Academy. Families, children, educators, directors, and founders came together — t-shirts white at the start, technicolor by the end — for the inaugural SBA Color Run 2026. It was loud, joyful, and covered in every shade imaginable.
The event brought all three of our Chicagoland centers together in one place, united by something we believe in deeply: that the best learning — and the best memories — happen when a community moves as one. Parents who had only waved hello at drop-off found themselves laughing together mid-run, getting hit by the same cloud of magenta powder. Little ones who walk our hallways every day sprinted through color stations with pure, unfiltered delight.
A day that showed what SBA is made of.
Our founders ran alongside the families they serve. Our directors organized every detail. Our educators cheered every finisher. This wasn't just a fun run — it was a portrait of our community.
A heartfelt thank you to every family who laced up, every volunteer who showed up early and stayed late, and especially to the staff and directors of our Kirk & Butterfield location for organizing an event that will be hard to top. You turned a parking lot into a celebration.
See you at the next one — and maybe wear something you don't mind keeping colorful.
Every Colorful Moment






























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