2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The San Francisco Division is pleased to honor Futures Without Violence for its efforts to end violence against women and children. Futures Without Violence organizes programs that are focused on building stronger and more educated communities, teaching boys how to be respectable men, counseling abusive men, counseling abused women and children, and preventing violence against women on college campuses. The organization works to end violence by guiding children and teens into developing healthy relationships.

In addition, the group works with health care providers to help them identify and provide the proper treatment for victims of domestic violence, and with judges to help them make more informed decisions and rulings in domestic violence cases. Futures Without Violence also partners with corporations to help create safe workplaces and enact policies that help prevent violence.

2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The San Antonio Division is pleased to honor Mr. Robert Grau for his assistance in the investigation and subsequent prosecution of Carlos Madrid, a former board chairman of the Housing Authority of Bexar County (HABC).

In 2003, Mr. Grau was appointed to the HABC board of directors. At the time of his appointment, HABC was in negotiations to enter into a partnership to develop low-income housing using tax credits. Mr. Grau educated himself on the tax credit process and began to question the board’s involvement in the project.

In 2007, the FBI San Antonio Field Office began an investigation into allegations of corruption relating to HABC’s tax credit project. During the investigation, Mr. Grau provided information that enabled the development of other leads. Mr. Grau’s cooperation in the Madrid case led to a successful public corruption investigation. Madrid pled guilty and received 18 months of probation.

Born and raised in Ohio, Mr. Grau served a tour with the U.S. Air Force before earning his accounting degree from St. Mary’s University. An active community volunteer, Mr. Grau coaches football, basketball, and t-ball; is a Cub Scout Master; and is past president for the James Madison High School Future Farmers of America. He also served on the board of directors for Target in 2000 and the Northeast Independent School District Bond Committee. He is a 2010 graduate of the San Antonio Citizens Academy. 

2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Tampa Division is pleased to honor Ms. Rose Ferlita for her work in starting Bully Busters, a comprehensive nationwide anti-bullying program in Hillsborough County. Her work started after an alleged sexual assault at a local middle school, in which the victim shared that he had endured months of bullying prior to the attack.

Through Ms. Ferlita’s efforts, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay partnered to organize Bully Busters. To help implement the initiative, Ms. Ferlita created an anti-bullying advisory committee comprised of 13 voting members, including parents, caretakers, and participants from relevant agencies and children’s youth groups, to develop an approach to eliminate bullying. The committee serves as a vital resource to the County Commission in public policy development and evolution of bullying prevention. The group also has a youth subcommittee that assists young people in speaking out against bullying and violence.

Bully Busters’ efforts focus on public and community awareness and support. Parents and students can call or text the local sheriff’s office to report bullying behavior. In 2011, the program was honored by the National Association of Counties for effective and innovative county government initiatives.

The initiative is not Ms. Ferlita’s first foray into the world of public service—she has more than 20 years of experience serving on boards, commissions, councils, and task forces.

2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The San Diego Division is pleased to honor KSWB-TV Fox 5 San Diego for its efforts in helping the FBI fight crime. In 2010, the station debuted “San Diego’s Most Wanted: The FBI Files,” a 15-minute program. A year later, the program expanded to its current 30-minute format. Since the program began broadcasting, 120 suspects profiled on the show have been captured. Seven have been a direct result of tips received from the show.

Fox 5 San Diego is the only station in San Diego to regularly profile criminal fugitives in the community. An anonymous tip line for “San Diego’s Most Wanted” provides law enforcement with information about individuals featured on the program. In addition to FBI cases, the show highlights wanted fugitives from other local, federal, and state law enforcement agencies.

Fox 5 San Diego has demonstrated a commitment to reducing crime in the county by devoting its resources to help law enforcement make arrests.

2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Oklahoma City Division is pleased to honor Mrs. Susan Agel, president of Positive Tomorrows, a non-profit school for homeless children. Positive Tomorrows has an average enrollment of 30 to 45 students who represent diverse communities. Through her work, Mrs. Agel helps provide homeless children with an education and emotional support through one-on-one mentoring. By focusing on individual students and providing a support network, the staff of Positive Tomorrows aims to equip homeless students with the education and skills needed to transition into public school.

In 2010, the school received accreditation, which means that students who attend Positive Tomorrows may transition into any public school in the United States. When Mrs. Agel took office in 2009, she vowed to attain the accreditation since so many homeless families are transient.

Mrs. Agel’s dedication and commitment to providing a safe learning environment for homeless children is affording these students a chance to break the cycle and become successful adults.