Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the FBI has presented a prestigious award to a San Antonio-based nonprofit that assists abused children.
Today, FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs presented the 2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to a local organization, Ransomed Life. Ransomed Life cares for minors who are survivors, victims, or at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. Due to public health concerns connected to the COVID-19 virus, the award ceremony had to be postponed until today, April 5, 2021.
Ransomed Life is one of the only organizations in San Antonio that offers one-on-one mentoring for this specific demographic and its mentors are in contact with the affected minors on a weekly basis. The nonprofit takes a wholistic approach to each activity in order to encompass spiritual, mental, behavioral, and physical care, while having fun.
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 virus, the FBI Director holds the Director’s Community Leadership Award ceremony in Washington, D.C., in May to honor the outstanding contributions of community leaders and organizations from around the country. Due to the pandemic, the event had to be cancelled.
One of top priorities of Ransomed Life is educating the community about the realities of sex trafficking. Team members educate schools, churches, businesses, and organizations all across San Antonio. The organization also helps educate and equip young people to recognize the tricks and lures of traffickers.
“Ransomed Life has truly been a force multiplier for the FBI San Antonio Division,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “Their community outreach and education events have helped protect children and prevent young people from being ensnared by the perpetrators of human trafficking.”
In 2019, Ransomed Life’s significant accomplishments and contributions to the community included:
- 1,100 hours of court advocacy
- 3,526 hours of counseling
- 1,306 hours of detention visits
- 2,804 hours of mentoring activity
- 6,774 people in the community educated on sex trafficking
The FBI, through its Community Outreach Program, has recognized the achievements of individuals or organizations for their supportive efforts in the areas of terrorism, crime, cyber, drug, gang, or violence prevention and education by presenting the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award since 1990. Each year, the Special Agent in Charge of each FBI field office selects an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to their communities in these areas.
The San Antonio Division is honored to recognize Ransomed Life as its recipient for the 2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.