Journey from Client to Board Member- Heather Callahan “Pays It Forward” to help others

DENVER - May 15, 2015 - PRLog -- In 1993, Heather Callahan was brutally attacked by a stranger outside her Denver home. This event brought her to DCCV where the staff gave her the compassion, understanding and tools she needed to begin the process of moving forward with her life. That act of passing through those doors began a long, meaningful and enriching relationship with the agency, its staff and other clients.

In 2006, while living in Chicago, Callahan was in the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show where she accepted Oprah’s “Pay It Forward Challenge.” Oprah gave each audience member a debit card with $1,000 and told them to spend it anyway they wished to help someone.

Callahan immediately contacted DCCV and was introduced to Martha Clark. Clark had been shot in the face and needed plastic surgery not covered by Medicaid. Callahan gave Clark the Oprah funds and $1,600 of her own money so the surgery could be performed.

The story was one of only 12 featured on the Oprah show. After the show aired, an overwhelming number of people made donations to support Clark’s continued medical needs. In total, nearly $20,000 was raised and all the funds went to reconstructive surgery.

Over the years, Callahan has come back to the agency to meet and talk with other survivors of trauma, to help them see that they can reclaim their lives.

Callahan comments, “When I meet with clients I can speak firsthand about my experiences and how my time as a client at DCCV helped me reach the place I am now.”

It’s been 22 years since Callahan first came through the DCCV doors and she has been a supporter almost since the beginning, working in the 24-hour hotline room, making financial contributions and fundraising. Joining the board of directors seemed like a natural progression in her journey.

“Becoming a board member just made sense,” states Callahan. “I believe in the mission, I know the programs work and want to be part of the DCCV legacy of helping people live fulfilled lives.”

The majority of staff members Callahan met in 1993 are still with the agency, not the norm in the nonprofit world. DCCV’s leadership understands the emotional strains of working with survivors of trauma and puts self-care at the forefront of staff development.

Callahan currently resides in Boulder, Colo., and is married with three children.