Futures Without Violence Receives 2011 Director’s Community Leadership Award from FBI San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO—Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, was presented the 2011 Director’s Community Leadership Award on behalf of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas announced Feb. 15.

The annual award was created in 1990 as a way to honor and recognize individuals and organizations that go above and beyond the call of duty in service to their community in the area of drug and violence education and prevention.

“I am honored to present this award today to Futures Without Violence for the extraordinary efforts and courageous work they do in our community,” said Douglas. “It is no secret that children and women of all ages are at risk of domestic and sexual violence. The FBI takes crimes against children and women seriously through programs such as the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force program, innocent images criminal program which targets child pornography, and in our day-to-day interaction with our local, state, and other federal law enforcement partners in combating these sorts of crimes.”

From domestic and dating violence to child abuse and sexual assault, Futures Without Violence works to end violence against women and children. The organization advances the health, stability, education, and security of women, girls, men, and boys throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more than 30 years, Futures Without Violence has reached new audiences and transformed social norms paving the way for national action campaigns, ground-breaking legislation and professional training programs designed to build the positive relationships that all individuals, families and communities need and deserve. In particular, Futures Without Violence was instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1994.

“Today’s award is an honor and amplifies our efforts to recognize that for people to be healthy, they must be able to live free of violence,” said Esta Soler, director and founder of Futures Without Violence. “We are proud to join the dedicated set of past recipients that share in our mission of creating futures without violence.”

In 2011, Futures Without Violence moved its headquarters to the Presidio of San Francisco, designed as a state-of-the-art global hub for innovation, leadership, and action where individuals and allied organizations from around the world will gather to realize the possibility of a world without violence. With offices in Washington D.C. and Boston as well, Futures Without Violence continues to focus on promoting the safety and wellbeing of all through education, advocacy and prevention programs that teach adolescents about the importance of healthy relationships. The organization also increasingly works on policy and programs that advance the status of women and girls around the globe by investing in their health, education and economic participation.

For more information about the Director’s Community Leadership Award, contact FBI Community Outreach Specialist Alicia Sensibaugh at 415-558-2505.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas (right) presents the 2011 Director’s Community Leadership Award to “Futures Without Violence” on behalf of the San Francisco Field Office. Brian O’Connor, a spokesman for “Futures Without Violence,” accepted the award on behalf of the San Francisco-based organization.

Members of the FBI San Francisco Field Office and “Futures Without Violence” pose for a photo following the award presentation for the 2011 Director’s Community Leadership Award by Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas. From left to right: FBI Chief Division Counsel Brenda Atkinson, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Harp, FBI Administrative Officer Joshua Perez, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Bennett, Futures Without Violence Program Assistant Sarah Pritchard, Futures Without Violence Spokesman Brian O’Connor, Futures Without Violence Program Assistant Timmie Roach, Futures Without Violence Director of Communication Marsha Robertson, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joel Moss, FBI Community Outreach Specialist Alicia Sensibaugh, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gavin, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kevin Sherburne, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert McMenomy.

Members of the media should call FBI Public Affairs Specialist Peter Lee at 415-553-7590.