2022 Honoree

David Eisner

Dave Eisner has worked his entire career in the field of child welfare, starting as a substance abuse counselor after earning his Masters of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1977 he left the east coast for Colorado, and was hired as a Clinician at the relatively new Third Way Center in Denver. By 1980 he had been promoted to Executive Director and has served in that position for over 40 years.

Dave has been instrumental in Third Way Center’s progress, and he has overseen its growth from a 12-child, $150,000 agency to its current status as one of Colorado’s most well regarded institutions for the treatment of high risk children. Third Way now comprises two schools and five residences, capable of housing over 100 teens, and has a budget of over $11 million.

Of particular note was the expansion of Third Way’s facilities to include the Lincoln Apartments in 1992 and the Lowry Campus in 2007. This enabled the organization to have a total residential continuum of care from acute mental health to independent living. During Dave’s tenure, Third Way Center has changed the lives of thousands of adolescents, providing them the tools they need for success.

Third Way has received multiple awards under Dave’s leadership, in recognition of its profound impact on the community. These include two El Pomar Awards for Excellence – the RJ Montgomery Award and the Karl E. Eitel Award – and the Denver Metro Chamber’s Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year.

In addition to his work at Third Way Center, Dave is active in various community organizations. He currently serves as the Board President at Denver’s Temple Sinai, is Board Chair of the Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies (CAFCA), and is a former board member of the Jewish Community Center in Denver.

He met Renee, his wife of 33 years, while working at Third Way Center – where she has served in various roles, including as our current Program Director. His daughter, Sarah, lives in Denver with her husband and two children, and his son Max lives and works in Washington, D.C.