Born of tragedy, the James W. Foley Legacy Basis has labored since 2014 to reunite greater than 140 Individuals held captive in international international locations with their households.
These tireless efforts replicate the brave voice for freedom, justice and compassion that the group’s namesake, James W. Foley, embodied. Foley – an American instructor, humanitarian and impartial battle journalist – was kidnapped Thanksgiving Day 2012 whereas reporting in Syria and murdered practically two years later by the Islamic State (ISIS).
Inside 16 days of his mindless August 2014 slaughter, Foley’s household and associates launched the Foley Basis to advocate for American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas and promote journalist security. It’s the honor of a lifetime to hitch Ambassador Roger Carstens, former particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs, and Ryan Fayhee, a accomplice at Akin with intensive expertise representing present and former hostages of transnational felony organizations and detainees of international governments, as the latest members of the inspiration’s board of administrators.
Since its formation, the Foley Basis has advocated efficiently for the return of greater than 140 Individuals held captive overseas, pushed crucial coverage and legislative modifications and helped create the U.S. authorities’s “hostage enterprise.” It has additionally educated journalists and their employers on find out how to defend themselves overseas whereas finishing up their invaluable work of fortifying a wholesome democracy.
When P3’s Take No Prisoners debuted on the 2025 South by Southwest in Austin, audiences obtained their closest inside look so far at high-stakes U.S. hostage negotiations. Each heart-wrenching and exhilarating, the documentary options the journalistic chops of P3’s Adam Ciralsky, who embedded for 15 months with fellow Foley Basis board member Roger Carstens, America’s prime hostage negotiator at the moment.
Take No Prisoners chronicles Carstens’ efforts to free Los Angeles public defender Eyvin Hernandez from “The Home of Desires,” a infamous Venezuelan jail. From tense White Home conferences to chaotic Caracas streets, the movie gives distinctive, behind-the-scenes footage documenting the setbacks, breakthroughs and relentless dedication required to triumph within the harmful, high-stakes world of U.S. hostage recoveries.
Ciralsky masterfully captures Carstens’ unflappable negotiating poise and juxtaposes it with the demoralizing nervousness the households advocating for the discharge of their family members endure. That is the uncooked energy of documentary storytelling.
These are the initiatives the world must see, internalize after which resolve what position they will personally play in disrupting the established order.
These tales usually are not previously—they’re occurring now. Lower than two weeks in the past, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that 9 Individuals arrested between late August and January are nonetheless being wrongfully detained in Venezuela and known as on President Nicolas Maduro’s authorities to launch them instantly. This revelation comes barely one month after Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, secured the discharge of six different American detainees from Maduro’s grasp.
James Foley believed wholeheartedly within the energy of a free press and the power of on a regular basis folks to vary the world round them by bearing witness to the atrocities of battle. In flip, the inspiration bearing his title works straight with authorities officers, professional bono companions and victims to finish their hostage ordeals. It conducts impartial, nonpartisan analysis to assist maintain leaders to their “sacred obligation” to resolve the injustice of hostage-taking and guarantee captors are held accountable for his or her crimes. Most significantly, it develops and shares instruments that assist journalists, support employees, and all Individuals to remain protected overseas.
In my new position, I vow to uphold the values the Foley Basis prizes: the ethical braveness to encourage and empower all to behave with ethical conviction; a dedication to resolving the injustices of hostage-taking by means of analysis and advocacy that form insurance policies to discourage captors and maintain them accountable; and the compassion to empathize with and assist hostage households by listening, figuring out the assets wanted and minimizing the obstacles they encounter, all whereas advocating for his or her family members’ swift returns.
Ashley Bell is the founder and CEO of monetary providers platform Prepared Life, board chairman and CEO of Redemption Holding Co., former chief of the U.S. Small Enterprise Administration’s Southeast Area and former White Home coverage adviser for entrepreneurship and innovation within the Workplace of American Innovation.
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