Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that Hector M. Perez, vice president of Club Services for the Union League Boys and Girls Club of Chicago (ULBGCC), has been named the 2015 recipient of the FBI’s Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Chicago Division.

The FBI presents this award annually on behalf of its Director, James B. Comey. It was established in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts to prevent crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence and to further law enforcement efforts in their communities. Each year, the special agent in charge of each of the FBI’s 56 field offices selects an honoree that has made a significant difference in the lives of others. Mr. Perez was selected by the Chicago Division for his leadership of the ULBGCC. He became a youth member and leader at the ULBGCC in 1982. For the past 10 years, he was the organization’s senior club director. Through his leadership with the organization, Mr. Perez was recently promoted to vice president of Club Services. He remains responsible for managing eight club locations.

Mr. Perez’s accomplishments last year include opening two additional club sites on the south side of Chicago. As a result, the ULBGCC was able to assist an additional 1,500 Chicago youth on a daily basis. Over the last few years, Mr. Perez has worked closely with the FBI Chicago’s community outreach program to better educate local youth about online cyber safety, child prostitution/sex trafficking, and gang violence. He is also a 2013 graduate of the FBI Chicago Citizens Academy.

A luncheon honoring Mr. Perez is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 26, 2016, at the Union League Club at 65 West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. He will also join DCLA recipients selected by other FBI field offices across the nation at an awards ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C., this spring where he will be personally recognized and honored by Director Comey.