James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

American journalist James Foley was taken hostage by ISIS. Our gov’t refused to negotiate his release. ISIS murdered him. 10 yrs ago, his mother started #FoleyFoundation to inspire moral courage, protect journalists, & free American hostages & wrongful detainees. #JimFoley10Years

There at least 6 Americans wrongfully detained in Iran, including #freeKamranHekmati and #FreeRezaValizadeh, both of whom have been designated “wrongfully detained” by ⁦⁦@StateDept⁩ ⁦@SecRubio⁩. fox5sandiego.com/video/american…

Today, the Foley Foundation celebrates one year since @GGlezmann was freed after 836 days in Taliban captivity! George, a Delta Airlines mechanic from Atlanta, was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan in December 2022. His health declined during his detention, and his family endured months of limited contact and uncertainty. Today, we celebrate George’s freedom while remembering the Taliban continues to wrongfully detain Americans in country, including Dennis Coyle and Mahmood Habibi. Read more about George’s story here: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/hostage/george…

Today marks three years since Jeff Woodke was freed after more than six years in captivity! An American humanitarian aid worker, Jeff was kidnapped from his home in Niger by the extremist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. On March 20, 2023, following extensive diplomatic efforts, the United States secured his release and brought him home. Read more about his story here: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/op-eds/the-rea…

The US Navy veteran was sailing across the globe when he was stopped in the Black Sea by the Russian Navy & forced to shore. Now, Zimmerman’s family & an advocacy group called Global Reach are hoping to gain national attention around this case. wdbj7.com/2026/03/20/adv…

2026 JAMES W. FOLEY FREEDOM AWARDS – AWARDEE SPOTLIGHT WORLD PRESS FREEDOM AWARD - IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESS FREEDOM: @AlsuKurmasheva, Press Freedom Advocate, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty And @PashaButorin, Director, Current Time TV & Digital Network led by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) For additional information about all our distinguished award recipients, please visit: secure.qgiv.com/event/2026jame…

“We’ve just been let down so much.” Hear Carol Barnes advocate for her brother David, who is imprisoned in Russia. With family members struggling with dementia, David needs action now. Visit  AMERICANSLEFTBEHIND.US and  sign a petition to @POTUS to bring David home!

The United States cannot forget the journalists like Reza who are behind bars in Iran.

Judge reinstates 1,000 @VOANews employees, deems wind-down illegal “Voice of America has never been more needed. I am grateful for the resilience and dedication of VOA’s amazing workforce.” - VOA Director Michael Abramowitz Read more here: washingtonpost.com/business/2026/…

Global Reach chief investigative officer, Kiernan Ramsey, who once headed hostage recovery efforts for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, says Zimmerman’s arrest is “the typical Russian playbook.” It would have been obvious to the Russians that a guy sailing without GPS was no threat. However, “once they saw he was an American, ka-ching, ‘Let’s take this guy,’” Ramsey says. “Now he’s a pawn in a major geopolitical game.” @RepBenCline @timkaine @MarkWarner @SecRubio @StateSPEHA @aboehler @SebGorka @SEPeaceMissions @SteveWitkoff cardinalnews.org/2026/03/17/rus… via @cardinalnewsva

Listen to @MarinaSolt67508  talk about her son Andre and how his four years of captivity in Russia has impacted both Andre and their entire family.  Visit to  AMERICANSLEFTBEHIND.US and sign the petition to @POTUS  to bring Andre home.

2026 JAMES W. FOLEY FREEDOM AWARDS SPONSOR The Foley Foundation is deeply grateful to @nytimes for their generous sponsorship and steadfast support of our mission. Their commitment helps us protect journalists and stand with American hostage families. Thank you for being a strong partner in this work. FOLEYFREEDOMAWARDS.ORG

Having survived wrongful detention in Russia myself, my heart breaks for Olga Jezler. A US legal permanent resident, she flew to Moscow in June 2022 to care for her sister battling breast cancer—something her husband Harold, a US citizen, fully supported as the right and loving thing to do. She voluntarily declared her legally purchased CBD capsules at the airport—perfectly legal in Russia, exactly as she had done before. Three days later, Russia arrested her on fabricated drug trafficking charges and sentenced her to 10 years in a penal colony. Bring Olga home NOW please! @POTUS @StateSPEHA with @JamesFoleyFund

March 9th is US Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, which serves as a reminder that we must never stop pushing to free Americans held abroad. It was my solemn honor to establish this day in federal law three years ago. I will keep fighting to bring every wrongfully detained American home safely.

Today is Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, created with my Co-Chair of the House Hostage Task Force, Rep. Haley Stevens, to raise awareness about Americans unjustly held abroad and the families who fight every day to bring them home.   This remains a top priority. My Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, signed into law last year, strengthens tools to deter bad actors who wrongfully detain Americans abroad.   I will keep fighting until every hostage and wrongfully detained American is reunited with their family and brought home, and those who use Americans as political pawns are held accountable.   #BringThemHomeNow

Today is U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, a day to raise awareness for the Americans who are currently held overseas and those who were formerly held captive. This is the third annual observance on the federal level and New Jersey's first year recognizing the day. Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent, disappeared in Iran in 2007 and is considered the longest-held American hostage in history. Robert's daughter, Sarah Levinson Moriarty, is an #NJ07 constituent and has channeled unimaginable grief into a relentless pursuit of justice and advocacy, not only for her father, but for every American family living the nightmare of wrongful detention abroad. I have worked closely with Sarah to advance legislation to protect Americans overseas. This Congress, I co-led the bipartisan Countering Wrongful Detention Act, which was signed into law last year. This legislation makes clear that there will be consequences for Iran and other hostile regimes that use innocent Americans as bargaining chips. Under @POTUS's leadership, Iran's days of evading consequences for its hostage-taking, terrorism, and destabilization are over. The United States will hold this regime accountable.

The Foley Freedom Awards honors individuals, like Jim, who exemplify moral courage. Your support of the event drives our work on behalf of hostage families, those held captive, and journalists who are facing heightened risks. Jim once said: “Physical courage is nothing compared to moral courage.” His example challenges all of us to act with courage. Help us build a safer, freer world. Will you stand with us? Visit FOLEYFREEDOMAWARDS.ORG to become a sponsor, purchase tickets or give an impactful gift.

In honor of U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day on March 9th, we have been re-introducing you to the Americans in our family-led Bring Our Families Home Campaign who are currently wrongfully detained abroad. This is KAMRAN HEKMATI, wrongfully detained in #IRAN. Please learn about him. Post about him. Make sure he is not forgotten. #bringthemhome #freedomstartswithaname #freeKamranHekmati

In honor of U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day on March 9th, we have been re-introducing you to the Americans in our family-led Bring Our Families Home Campaign who are currently wrongfully detained abroad. This is REZA VALIZADEH, wrongfully detained in #IRAN. Please learn about him. Post about him. Make sure he is not forgotten. #bringthemhome #freedomstartswithaname #freeRezaValizadeh @freerezav

2026 JAMES W. FOLEY FREEDOM AWARDS SPONSOR We’re deeply grateful to Diane and John Foley, whose love for Jim and commitment to his legacy continue to guide the Foley Foundation. Because of their leadership, we’re able to protect journalists and stand with American hostage families every day. Thank you for helping us carry forward a mission rooted in freedom, safety, and hope. FOLEYFREEDOMAWARDS.ORG