FBI Omaha Field Office Announces Director’s Community Leadership Award Presented to Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue

OMAHA—The FBI’s Omaha Field Office is pleased to announce Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue and its founder Beth Ostdiek Smith as a recipient of the 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). Saving Grace and Mrs. Smith was selected for having demonstrated outstanding contributions to her community through service. On Monday, February 25, 2019, Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Randall Thysse and other FBI officials congratulated and recognized Mrs. Smith with this honor.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America; performing notable service regarding civil rights; advancing cooperation between law enforcement and ethnic and minority groups; making creative efforts to solve a community problem; or for outstanding contributions to the community through service. Recipients of this award are nominated by each of the FBI’s 56 field offices and are recognized for their service above and beyond the call of duty to help keep America and its residents safe.

Started in October 2013 by Beth Ostdiek Smith, Saving Grace redirects food destined for landfills into the hands of those who need it. Starting with three food donors and three food pantries in Omaha, Saving Grace picked up donated dairy products, fruits and vegetables, prepared and packaged meals, meats and other healthy foods and delivered them the same day, free of charge, to local non-profits that feed the hungry.

Celebrating their five year anniversary in October 2018, Saving Grace now partners with over 50 grocery stores, wholesalers, convenience stores, event venues, caterers, restaurants, and schools to pick up food otherwise destined for the landfill and delivers that food to 37 local shelters, food pantries, senior citizen centers, after school programs, transitional living facilities, and other non-profit agencies in the Omaha area.

By the end of December 2018, Saving Grace had rescued 2.9 million pounds of food that is still good but not sellable, getting that into the hands of the one in five children in the Omaha community that might have otherwise gone to bed hungry. By creating the pipeline of excess perishable food from businesses to non-profit agencies that feed the hungry free of charge, these non-profits can direct their resources to other programs.

In May, Mrs. Smith will attend a ceremony at FBI Headquarters where she, along with recipients from across the country, will be presented with the award by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Additional information about the Director’s Community Leadership Awards can be found at: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/partnerships_and_outreach/community_outreach/dcla.

Arizona State University's David Gillum Named FBI Phoenix Division’s 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award Recipient

PHOENIX, AZ—The FBI Phoenix Field Division is pleased to announce David Gillum as the recipient of the 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). Mr. Gillum, the Director of Biosafety and Biosecurity at Arizona State University (ASU), was selected for making outstanding contributions to his community through service.

“Mr. Gillum has been at the forefront of international biosafety and security. He has brought law enforcement, industry partners, and academia together to increase awareness of biosecurity risks which directly impacts the safety and citizens of our community. His efforts have also helped open dialogue, creating better trust and understanding amongst the public and private sectors,” said Michael DeLeon, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Division.

In his role at ASU, Mr. Gillum oversees more than 1,000 laboratories at ASU, which are using biological materials. Seeing a need to plan, train, and educate the community about the risks posed by advanced and emerging biotechnologies, Gillum approached the FBI Phoenix Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator to partner and develop the first of its kind International Biosecurity Workshop. The workshop, which has gained international attention for its size and scope, brings law enforcement and laboratory professionals to discuss issues of mutual concern regarding dangerous biological pathogens found in laboratories around the world.

In addition to the workshop, Mr. Gillum established a task force to create a professional credentialing program for biosecurity professionals, partnering with FBI Phoenix and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate to accomplish this goal.

“David’s innovative spirit in connecting academics, law enforcement, and industry professionals at the Arizona Biosecurity Workshop is proof of Arizona State University’s social embeddedness design aspiration,” said Morgan R. Olsen, ASU Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. “During the past three years, David has connected these individual groups that now may continue to address biosecurity and biosafety matters from a shared perspective that did not exist before. Our communities will benefit as a result of this work. David Gillum is well deserving of the 2018 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.”

In 2018, Mr. Gillum also tasked a team to develop an outreach program for elementary, high school, and university students to encourage biosecurity and biosafety in classrooms.

Mr. Gillum serves as president-elect for the American Biological Safety Association International. He co-founded the Arizona Biosafety Alliance and was elected President among other key positions in the organization. In 2015, Mr. Gillum established a partnership with Arizona State University and the Mexican Biosafety Association to support biosafety collaborations between Arizona, Mexico, and other South American countries.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. I am extremely thankful to Arizona State University for recognizing the importance of community engagement and for allowing me to be at the forefront of these biosafety and biosecurity initiatives,” said David Gillum, ASU director of biosafety and biosecurity. “I never could have received this award without the support of my amazing team in ASU’s Environmental Health and Safety as well as the incredible partnerships with FBI Supervisory Special Agents Philip Bates and Andrew Braun, Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon, and countless others in the FBI.”

The Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to education and the prevention of crime and violence in their communities.

Recipients of this award are nominated by each of the FBI’s 56 field offices and are recognized for their service above and beyond the call of duty to help keep America and its residents safe.

On May 3, 2019 Mr. Gillum will attend a ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he along with DCLA recipients from across the country, will be presented with the award by FBI Director Christopher Wray.