Bryan Stern Honored with Inaugural Distinguished Service Award at Philanthropy of the Year Celebration
The Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue Recognized for Extraordinary Life-Saving Missions Worldwide and Heroic Hurricane Relief Efforts in Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. [November 15, 2024] — Grey Bull Rescue proudly announces that its Chairman and Founder, Bryan Stern, has been awarded the inaugural Distinguished Service Award from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine, recognizing his enduring commitment to humanitarian, evacuation and hostage rescue work worldwide and his recent efforts supporting Tampa Bay’s recovery after Hurricanes Helene and Milton where he led teams that rescued dozens of civilians from flood waters. This award recognizes Stern’s dedication, service, and heroism saving American lives spanning hundreds of missions all over the world and his significant impact on the Tampa Bay area and the community.
Under Bryan Stern’s leadership, his team has conducted life-saving missions in some of the world’s most dangerous regions, rescuing Americans and allies in crisis zones including, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Haiti and Lebanon. Most recently, Grey Bull Rescue was on the ground in Tampa Bay during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Through dangerous rescue operations, Grey Bull Rescue pulled families from fires and floodwaters, conducted evacuations, distributed life-saving supplies and saved the lives of hundreds of residents in the hardest-hit neighborhoods and flood zones.
Beyond the hurricanes, in January, Bryan and his team conducted a painstaking dangerous and complex operation to rescue five children from Tampa who were kidnapped and held in Gaza. These are the only Americans held in Gaza to be rescued without governmental support or assistance. The children were reunited with their family after months of captivity, war, and terror.
“This award is both a tremendous honor and a tribute to the remarkable work of our team, Board of Directors, esteemed Advisory Board, and especially our donors, who make each mission possible and play a part in each life saved,” said Bryan Stern, Chairman and Founder of Grey Bull Rescue. “Our recent efforts in ravaged Tampa Bay during Hurricanes Helene and Milton reinforced the strength and resilience of this community and highlighted how important fast, capable, and effective nonprofit veteran-led organizations can be in times of crisis. My team at Grey Bull Rescue stands ready to support Americans worldwide wherever and whenever they need us most, now and in the future. With support from the community and donors we can continue to honor our commitment to SAVE LIVES at the SPEED OF NEED.”
With this recognition, Stern continues to drive Grey Bull Rescue’s mission globally and locally. Tampa Bay residents are encouraged to join the organization’s mission through volunteerism, corporate sponsorship, or financial support as Grey Bull prepares for future challenges. The organization’s mission is to saves lives at the speed of need where government resources are not present or do not have access anywhere in the world, including here at home. From hostages in Russia to Tampa children kidnapped in Gaza, to hurricanes, to any of the other 700 missions Stern’s team has completed, they continue to defy the odds and be a fixture in the Tampa community.
“I want to thank Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine, Bridgette Bello, all of our donors, and the entire Tampa community for their support for all of our operations. We have rescued Tampa residents from Gaza to Westshore, and that only happens when the community rallies to assist,” concluded Stern.
Community members interested in supporting Grey Bull Rescue’s missions can do so by visiting https://greybullrescue.org/. Supporters can also follow Grey Bull Rescue on social media to track missions and updates.
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About Grey Bull Rescue: Founded and led by Bryan Stern, Grey Bull Rescue is a veteran-led, donor-supported international rescue organization and filed 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with global operations. Specializing in operations within “The Grey Space,” in conflict zones where the U.S. Government does not have access or a presence, Grey Bull Rescue conducts evacuations and daring rescues of individuals impacted by conflict, war, and natural disasters worldwide. Notably, Bryan Stern, the Founder and formerly of Project DYNAMO, led the first air-rescue missions from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover and has conducted daring rescue missions behind enemy lines, rescuing numerous Americans from captivity, torture, and unlawful detention in countries including Sudan, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Haiti and Lebanon. These operations included the rescues of numerous American hostages including the first victim of war crimes alive since World War II. Additionally, the team executed lifesaving missions in the United States during the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Ian. To date, Stern and his team have conducted almost 700 missions worldwide and saved the lives of more than 7,100 men, women, children, babies, and even pets and counting.
