Latest news with #GreyBullRescueFoundation
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tampa nonprofit helps rescue 2 adopted children from escalating violence in Haiti
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two families have been united with their adopted children who were trapped in Haiti's escalating crisis. 'It's everything we could have ever imagined,' said Angela Howell-Edgerly. 'It's just a dream come true. It really is.' Gov. DeSantis proposes $1K rebate checks to cover Florida homeowners' property tax The Gray Bull Rescue Foundation embarked on a mission to help two 6-year-old girls escape the island nation as violence continues to erupt. 'We've been waiting for this for six years,' said Brock Blankenship. 'It's so long to finally have this happen. It's beyond anything we could have imagined.' Their escape from Haiti comes at a critical time. 'The human rights situation in Haiti has reached yet another crisis point,' said UN human rights chief Volker Türk in a social media post. 'Gangs are uniting to spread terror, armed with powerful weapons. The illicit flow of arms into the country must stop. The Haitian people cannot be forgotten. Their suffering must end.' The unrest has been weighing heavy on several adoptive families, especially over the last year when gang violence reached new heights in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. 'The current condition of the country warrants immediate action,' Howell-Edgerly said. 'They threatened to come back and kill the children and the nannies. We scrambled to try and get help, and at first, we couldn't get help.' Howell-Edgerly and her husband spent seven years navigating Haiti's adoption process for their daughter, Rosie. However, last March, her effort to unite with Rosie in America came to a standstill when the government collapsed. Uncertainty turned into fear when Rosie's living conditions became more dire each day. 'Some children have had to flee orphanages, including our daughter, due to surrounding gunfire and bullets penetrating walls,' Howell-Edgerly said. Howell-Edgerly contacted the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation to assist. The nonprofit organization is a veteran-led, international rescue agency based in Tampa. Grey Bull Rescue specializes in rescuing Americans from conflict zones across the world when the U.S. Government does not have access or a presence. 'Now, after a last-minute clearance and a high-stakes rescue, these families will be together,' read a statement from the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. 'Their journey has been filled with heartbreak, resilience, and unwavering determination.' However, more than a dozen adopted children are still trapped in Haiti and waiting to be evacuated to the U.S. Adoptive families are putting pressure on elected officials and the State Department to expedite the process. 'There are means to do so,' said Christopher Edgerly. 'They did it last year when they evacuated nearly 40 children. They could do the same thing today. They just seem to be slow walking everything right now.' For more information about Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Had to flee orphanages': Tampa nonprofit rescues 2 children from Haiti as gang violence deepens
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Two families have reunited with their adopted children who were trapped in Haiti's escalating crisis. The Gray Bull Rescue Foundation embarked on a mission to help two six-year-old girls escape the island nation as violence continues to erupt. Their escape from Haiti comes at a critical time. 'The human rights situation in Haiti has reached yet another crisis point,' said UN human rights chief Volker Türk in a social media post. 'Gangs are uniting to spread terror, armed with powerful weapons. The illicit flow of arms into the country must stop. The Haitian people cannot be forgotten. Their suffering must end.' Florida Attorney General's team investigates price gouging amid hurricane season Trump safe after what FBI describes as apparent assassination attempt Mega Millions $800 million jackpot won; $1 million winner in Florida The unrest has been weighing heavy on Angela Howell-Edgerly, especially over the last year when gang violence reached new heights in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Angela Howell-Edgerly and her husband spent seven years navigating Haiti's adoption process for their daughter, Rosie. 'The current condition of the country warrants immediate action,' Howell-Edgerly said. However, last March, her effort to unite with Rosie in America stood at a standstill when the government collapsed. Uncertainty became fear when Rosie's living conditions became more dire each day. 'Some children have had to flee orphanages, including our daughter, due to surrounding gunfire and bullets penetrating walls,' Howell-Edgerly said. Howell-Edgerly contacted the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation to assist. The non-profit organization is a veteran-led, international rescue agency based in Tampa, Florida. Grey Bull Rescue specializes in rescuing Americans from conflict zones across the world when the U.S. Government does not have access or a presence. 'Now, after a last-minute clearance and a high-stakes rescue, these families will be together,' reads a statement from the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. 'Their journey has been filled with heartbreak, resilience, and unwavering determination.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Combat Veteran and Global Rescue Expert Bryan Stern to Keynote 38th Annual Safety in Action® Conference
The Safety in Action® Conference Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation Atlanta, GA, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Safety in Action® Conference announces Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation and a decorated combat veteran, as the keynote speaker for this year's premier safety event. A seasoned intelligence and special operations leader, Stern brings over 27 years of service, specializing in hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, emergency management, and crisis response. A Purple Heart recipient and 9/11 first responder, he has executed over 700 high-stakes missions across Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Haiti, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Israel, and the United States, personally leading the rescue of more than 7,100 Americans and allies with his nonprofit. Stern's frontline experience spans some of the world's most dangerous environments, from war zones to natural disasters, including missions during the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Ian, and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in North Carolina and Florida and just recently the wildfires in California. His expertise in high-pressure decision-making, rapid response coordination, and operational leadership provides an unparalleled perspective on safety, resilience, and mission success—principles that directly translate to industrial safety environments. "Our commitment to our attendees is to always bring fresh, transformative perspectives to workplace safety, and Bryan Stern embodies that," says Ryan Gallagher, Senior Vice President at DEKRA North America and Executive Sponsor for the Safety in Action Conference. "His extensive experience leading high-stakes rescue missions showcases the ultimate importance of safety protocols, team collaboration, and authentic leadership – elements that are crucial in improving safety performance." The 38th Annual Safety in Action Conference, designed by safety professionals for safety professionals, provides attendees with practical, actionable strategies for improving workplace safety. Stern's keynote will highlight the critical connection between leadership and team trust. "In the most extreme environments—combat zones, disaster areas, and other high-risk operations — hazards are ever present. Safety isn't about checklists; it's about a mindset, discipline, and execution. The safety of my team and the safety of the people we rescue is paramount to our operations and success under all conditions and environments. I look forward to bringing battlefield-tested strategies to this conference to help organizations build a culture of readiness, safety, and leadership,' says Stern. The conference continues its tradition of bringing safety enthusiasts from various industries together to network, share best practices, and learn cutting-edge solutions for today's most pressing safety challenges. For registration and additional information about the 38th Annual Safety in Action Conference, visit ### About DEKRA North America DEKRA North America protects people, assets, and our community by providing comprehensive testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services around the globe. DEKRA NORTH AMERICA is a service unit of DEKRA S.E., a global leader in safety since 1925, with nearly 48,000 employees in 60 countries across six continents. Attachments The Safety in Action® Conference Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation CONTACT: Nadia Huda DEKRA North America, Inc. in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Combat Veteran and Global Rescue Expert Bryan Stern to Keynote 38th Annual Safety in Action® Conference
The Safety in Action® Conference announces Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation and a decorated combat veteran, as the keynote speaker for this year's premier safety event. A seasoned intelligence and special operations leader, Stern brings over 27 years of service, specializing in hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, emergency management, and crisis response. A Purple Heart recipient and 9/11 first responder, he has executed over 700 high-stakes missions across Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Haiti, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Israel, and the United States, personally leading the rescue of more than 7,100 Americans and allies with his nonprofit. Stern's frontline experience spans some of the world's most dangerous environments, from war zones to natural disasters, including missions during the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Ian, and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in North Carolina and Florida and just recently the wildfires in California. His expertise in high-pressure decision-making, rapid response coordination, and operational leadership provides an unparalleled perspective on safety, resilience, and mission success—principles that directly translate to industrial safety environments. 'Our commitment to our attendees is to always bring fresh, transformative perspectives to workplace safety, and Bryan Stern embodies that,' says Ryan Gallagher, Senior Vice President at DEKRA North America and Executive Sponsor for the Safety in Action Conference. 'His extensive experience leading high-stakes rescue missions showcases the ultimate importance of safety protocols, team collaboration, and authentic leadership – elements that are crucial in improving safety performance.' The 38th Annual Safety in Action Conference, designed by safety professionals for safety professionals, provides attendees with practical, actionable strategies for improving workplace safety. Stern's keynote will highlight the critical connection between leadership and team trust. 'In the most extreme environments—combat zones, disaster areas, and other high-risk operations — hazards are ever present. Safety isn't about checklists; it's about a mindset, discipline, and execution. The safety of my team and the safety of the people we rescue is paramount to our operations and success under all conditions and environments. I look forward to bringing battlefield-tested strategies to this conference to help organizations build a culture of readiness, safety, and leadership,' says Stern. The conference continues its tradition of bringing safety enthusiasts from various industries together to network, share best practices, and learn cutting-edge solutions for today's most pressing safety challenges. For registration and additional information about the 38th Annual Safety in Action Conference, visit DEKRA North America protects people, assets, and our community by providing comprehensive testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services around the globe. DEKRA NORTH AMERICA is a service unit of DEKRA S.E., a global leader in safety since 1925, with nearly 48,000 employees in 60 countries across six continents.
