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As executive director of the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC), I have had the pleasure of knowing Mark Hellerstein since 2003 when he was leading a dual life as head of one of the nation’s top companies, and a ventriloquist who gave “Puppets and Strings on Things” performances for children and adults.

While at St. Mary Land & Exploration Company, Mark developed an employee giving committee. In 2003 DCAC requested a small donation to make improvements to our tiny rented facility serving child victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Instead, we were offered a capital donation of $40,000 and the support to make it grow. Today we own a two-building campus because Mark and his employees encouraged us to dream on a grander scale.

On his retirement in 2005, Mark joined our board. In addition to his own personal generosity, he has introduced us to many other individuals and companies and encouraged them to support DCAC too.

He has played a pivotal role in our "Denver Safe from the Start" sexual abuse prevention program, which operates at Head Start sites, teaching prevention skills to at-risk pre-school children, their parents and teachers. Mark has created a ventriloquism performance that incorporates the curriculum’s safety message. Many of the children and families speak only Spanish, but Mark’s puppetry skills and ability to connect with children overcome any language barriers. In addition to his pro bono puppetry, Mark has worked with us to expand the program. In 2009 we were awarded one of only six federal demonstration grants allowing us to reach many more children.

Mark has been an accomplished ventriloquist since he was a teenager. Even with the demands of serving as CEO of a large public company, he devoted many, many hours to giving free puppet shows for low-income and disadvantaged kids. Mark is warm, funny, gentle and kind, and a wonderful leader. His wife explained to me that he has never been afraid to hire people "smarter" than he is and to give them the freedom to excel.

Mark lives his passion, and through his obvious joy and dedication to the causes he supports, he inspires others to live their passion too. With his help DCAC has:

•Created a “Kids Campus” by restoring two beautiful old Victorian buildings—we won for Reclaimed Splendor in the Mayor’s 2010 Design Awards .
•More than doubled the number of children served with prevention programs, forensic interviews, assessment and treatment (all at no cost to their families) from 760 in 2005 to 1801 in 2010.
•Received the 2010 Outstanding Service Award from the National Children’s Advocacy Center

Mark is always willing to give the credit to others—often the corporate colleagues he is busy recruiting as donors and supporters. Of course, Mark would be the first to say that many other people played a role in this success, which is true, but he has been a remarkable catalyst and a dedicated ambassador in the cause of child abuse prevention and treatment.