“Doing the Heavy Lifting” for Abused Kids in Colorado

by Scott Finlay, Director of Development & Communications Denver Children’s Advocacy Center


Devin Burns delivers a check for $1500 to DCAC.


Devin Burns of Denver Fitness Boot Camp wanted to help kids. He had attended our Gala back in October and was moved by the stories that were shared at that event. He came up with a brilliant way to engage his clients in his fitness boot camp, raise awareness about DCAC and the epidemic of childhood sexual abuse in Colorado AND raise $1500 in the process!

He solicited his “Boot Campers” to vote for three different exercises. Each exercise would consist of 5 reps at $1 each, totaling $15 per person. “My Boot Campers voted for 100 pound dumbbell shoulder presses, 100 pound bicep curls and one-arm push-ups, so I did all of them and had them donate $15 each,” said Devin.

What’s more, he actually taped his completion of the exercises and posted it on YouTube so he would have proof for his boot campers. It is truly amazing to watch! Check it out!  You've got to see it to believe it. 

“It was a pleasure meeting you," said Devin, "and I am extremely thankful that I was able to help such a great cause.”

Thank YOU, Devin! We are grateful for your generosity and good spirit.

"Mysterious Skin" - A Difficult Look at the Complexities of Abuse



Scott Heim
Author of Mysterious Skin

(Soundbyte from Mysterious Skin)
NEIL: What happened that summer took a huge part of me. No one ever made me feel that way before or since. I was special.


Unidentified Woman: Neil, you were eight years old.

NEIL: Yeah, but he really loved me. I mean, there were other kids sometimes, but I was his prize.

To many, this type of confession from an abuse survivor is counter-intuitive and even scary.  Who doesn't want to feel like a "prize?"  But, as all thereapists who deal with abused children will testify, this is a very common sentiment that victims must face and work through.

Mysterious Skin (by Scott Heim) was first published in 1995 and is somewhat autobiograhpical.  It chronicles the lives of two teenage boys who are dealing in very differing ways with the abuse that they both suffered at the hands of their little league baseball coach. After being adapted into a play, it was made into a film by the same title and directed by Gregg Araki in 2005. 

In this compelling interview NPR, both Heim and Araki share how complex the issue of child abuse can be; especially when the child takes on the guilt and self-loathing that often plagues them as a result of the violence they have experienced.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

Comcast Cares Day at DCAC - Transformative

by Scott Finlay

Director of Development & Communications

Over 50 volunteers from Comcast and the community gathered on Saturday, April 30th to help out and make a difference on the DCAC "Kid's Campus."  What happened was nothing short of extraordinary! 

Projects for the day included: 

• Building a new privacy fence on the south side of the 2139 parking lot
• Power washing the existing fences around the property
• Staining all of the fences
• Adding anti-slip tread to existing stairs and walkways for safety
• Adding new Trex stairs to the front of the 2149 house
• Installing childproof devices on cabinets in both houses
• Shampooing the carpets in the 2149 house
• Cleaning the furniture in the 2149 house
• Replacing lightbulbs
• Re-finishing the play table in the waiting room at the 2149 house
• Painting a border of "helping hands" around the doors in the waiting room of the 2149 house
• Installing paving stones on the south side emergency exit of the 2139 house

WHAT a day!  It was amazing.  THANK YOU, Comcast for your incredible generosity and hard work.  Special thanks to Crystal Stanley for her TIRELESS work of coordinating the entire day!