SPRINGFIELD, IL—Sean M. Cox, special agent in charge of the FBI Springfield Division, announced The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Decatur, Illinois, has been selected as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2019.

This distinctive award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating terrorism, cyber-crime, illegal drugs, gangs, and other crimes leading to violence in America. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is one of 56 individuals or organizations around the United States who will receive this award this year. The Foundation is being recognized for its contributions to the community for its positive impact to health care in Macon County where they have created a Community Care Campus and Crossing Healthcare to address the opiate epidemic and substance abuse programs to support short-term and long-term recovery program.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has impacted the FBI's mission by helping combat drug addiction through education of our community members, and rehabilitation of those who became dependent on opioids. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation wants to make this new facility available to help drug-addicted individuals get their lives back on track and become productive citizens. Ultimately these programs will assist in making our communities a safer place to live and work.

Crossing Healthcare, opened for patient care on October 15, 2019. Two of its five health care buildings are now open on the 27-acre health care and social services Community Care Campus. Crossing Healthcare owns and operates the medical detox, residential treatment facility, Crossing Recovery Center, and a 60-bed transitional housing facility. The campus will provide treatment options for those suffering from all types of drug addictions, including opioids. Services are available for those in Macon County and surrounding communities.

Christopher A. Wray, Director of the FBI, will present the Director’s Community Leadership Award to The Howard G. Buffett Foundation during an official ceremony held at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2020.