Awards

Norm Early Jr. Victims' Rights Award
Each year, DCCV honors an individual and business who have made a significant impact on the lives of crime victims with the Norm Early Jr. Victims' Rights Award. We are pleased to announce the 2008 winners of this prestigious award:

Heather Callahan - Community Member Award
Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman - Civil Service Award
Verizon Wireless - Corporate Award


Winners of the award are honored at our annual fundraising event "That Jazz Thing" and are presented their awards by former District Attorney Norm Early Jr.

Previous business winners of the award include:
Kroenke Sports Enterprises
Denver Police Department - Victim Assistance Unit
Sherman and Howard, LLC
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
Denver Health Medical Center
AT&T Wireless Services
Homebuilders Foundation
KCEC Univision Denver
WB2

Previous individual winners of the award include:
Mary C. Washington
John Hickenlooper - Mayor, City of Denver
Bill Ritter, Jr. - Denver District Attorney
Elbra Wedgeworth - City Council District 8
Steve Siegel - Denver Victim Assistance Law Enforcement Board
Dr. Hannah Evans, Ph.D. - Former DCCV Board Member
Reverend Lucia Guzman - Community Activist
Wellington E. Webb - Former Mayor, City of Denver
Janet Elway - Former DCCV Board Member

Colorado Ethics in Business Award
The Denver Center for Crime Victims is honored to announce that it was selected as on of five finalists for the Colorado Ethics in Business Award, presented on March 24, 2005. This award program is to honor companies and individuals promoting ethical business conduct for the benefit of the workplace, the marketplace, the environment and the community.

Living Portraits of African American Women Award
The Denver Center for Crime Victims is proud to announce that Cathy Phelps, M.A., M.S.W., Executive Director, was chosen as a recipient of this year's "Living Portraits of African American Women" Awards. Presented on March 26, 2005 by the Denver Section of the National Council on Negro Women and the African American Research Library, the award is presented in honor of NCNW founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Award recipients must make an outstanding contribution in the field of business, government, television, art, literature and volunteerism to their local community.

Martin Luther King Jr. Business Social Responsibility Award
The Denver Center for Crime Victims (DCCV) is pleased to announce that it is a 2002 recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Business Social Responsibility Award.

According to the application materials, the Business Social Responsibility Award is “a high honor bestowed upon individual business people, corporations and non-profit organizations who have contributed enormously to the community, living the spirit of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  That spirit embraces the concept of equal opportunity for all, promotion of good will towards people and encouragement of programs which make the world a better place.”

DCCV was nominated by Nancy Cain, Vice President of the Mountain States Employers Council for their exemplary work in helping victims of crime in Denver for the past 14 years.  “I am incredibly impressed with the passion and dedication of the people who work at DCCV.  They care so much about clients from beginning to end to make sure they get what they need.  The Center is able to provide extensive services to crime victims through their work along with coordination and referral to other agencies so as not to duplicate services in the community.  It was a pleasure to nominate and represent DCCV for the Business Social Responsibility award.” 

Cathy Phelps, M.A., M.S.W., Executive Director of DCCV, represents the board, staff and volunteers of the agency in saying “We are thrilled and awed to be selected for this award and will strive to further the legacy of Dr. King through our work with crime victims.”

DCCV is one of six agencies who received this esteemed award at the annual awards luncheon, which was held on January 18, 2002.  

Pictured above:  Former First Lady Wilma Webb and Eugene Dilbeck, former director of the Denver Visitor's Bureau present the award to Cathy Phelps, Executive Director.

Colorado Parent Magazine Best Companies for Working Families Award
The Denver Center for Crime Victims (DCCV) is honored to be voted one of Colorado Parent Magazine’s 2002 Best Companies for Working Families in Colorado.

Every year, Colorado Parent Magazine sends out a statewide survey with several questions regarding important human relations issues like flexible work schedule, personal leave for the birth of a new baby, and various staff benefits.  From returned surveys, the magazine awards companies and organizations in small, medium, and large sized organizations.  The Denver Center for Crime Victims employs 14 full time staff members, and received an award in the small organizations category.

Among the things that set DCCV apart from other organizations are the agency’s self-care plan policy, which requires employees to set emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual and physical goals every year to be part of their annual evaluations.  DCCV Executive Director, Cathy Phelps, M.A., M.S.W., attributes the low attrition rate in a field that traditionally has a high burnout rate to the “work environment, benefits, culture, and commitment to wellness and wholeness in every aspect of the job.”

DCCV is proud to have created an environment that is supportive for the crime victims we serve as well as for the people who work here.  The staff mission statement, “To create and maintain a cooperative work environment which promotes accountability, trust, and respect for individual strengths and team growth, while sharing a commitment to a common vision,” and the agency’s human relations policies are key in recruiting and retaining a quality, diverse staff of people who care deeply about the agency and the work.

Above:    Staff and Board members of DCCV accepting the Colorado Parent Magazine Award. Back Row Left to Right:  Amy Ulrich, Director of Administration and Technology; Kristen Mix, Former Board President; and Kathi Fanning, Director of Training and Volunteer Services. Front Row Left to Right:  Ann Sussman, Former Board President; and Linda Spruell, Director of Finance/Human Resources.

Hiawatha Davis Community Service Award
The Denver Center for Crime Victims is the proud recipient of the Community Service Award as nominated and approved by the Hiawatha Davis Senior Luncheon and Conference Committee.   Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth created the award in 2000 to recognize seniors, community organizations and businesses for their commitment to service and the work they do in District 8.  Councilwoman Wedgeworth presented the award to DCCV at the 20th Annual Hiawatha Davis Jr. Senior Luncheon and Conference on December 18, 2002. 

Thank you to City Council President Wedgeworth for this honor.

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