WASHINGTON – The Board of Directors of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation announced Thursday the recipients of two 2026 James W. Foley Freedom Awards, honoring four exceptional leaders and individuals of moral courage.
Humanitarian Awardees – Bar Ben Yaakov and Matan Sivek
Bar Ben Yaakov and Matan Sivek co-founded the Hostages and Missing Families Forum (US), based in Washington, D.C.—a coalition committed to securing the release of hostages held in Gaza. Their work seeks the safe return of survivors and the dignified recovery of those who have perished. Through strategic advocacy, community organizing, and public engagement, these individuals provide urgent and compassionate support to victims of the October 7, 2023, hostage crisis.
World Press Freedom Awardees – Alsu Kurmasheva and Pavel Butorin
Both Alsu Kurmasheva and Pavel Butorin, journalists with Radio Free Europe, have been tireless advocates for press freedom. Alsu was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly 400 days before her release in a complex multinational prisoner exchange on August 1, 2024. Together, they continue to shine a light on the plight of Americans—including journalists—who are wrongfully detained by foreign governments—and advocate for the release of journalists imprisoned by repressive regimes.
Additionally, the family of Robert Levinson and the Foley Foundation’s Board of Directors jointly announced the recipient of the Robert A. Levinson Excellence in Government Service Award – Dustin Stewart.
Acting Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Stewart has had a distinguished career in public service, including assignments at the National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency, where he focused on international security, hostage recovery, and crisis response.
Additional awardees will be announced at a later date.The 2026 Foley Freedom Awards will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 5, 2026.
Foley Foundation President and Founder Diane Foley stated:
“The Foley Freedom Awards honor extraordinary individuals whose moral courage uplifts us all—those who stand with victims of hostage-taking, fight for the freedom of the unjustly detained, defend press freedom, and serve our nation with excellence and integrity. These awardees remind us that each of us has the power to make a difference. I warmly invite you to join us in celebrating their inspiring work and to be part of a community committed to hope, justice, and human dignity.”
Join the Foley Foundation in honoring these extraordinary individuals, supporting the foundation’s mission to bring Americans unjustly held captive home, and promote journalist safety. Tickets and sponsorship information for the 2026 Awards will be available in the coming months at foleyfreedomawards.org.
ABOUT THE JAMES W. FOLEY LEGACY FOUNDATION
Conflict journalist James W. Foley was taken hostage by ISIS terrorists in 2012 while covering the Syrian civil war. His captors tortured and ultimately brutally murdered him in 2014. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation was established within weeks of his death. Inspired by the moral courage of James Foley, the foundation advocates for American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad and promotes journalist safety.
For more information or to learn how you can make an impact, please visit jamesfoleyfoundation.org or contact us here. Charitable donations to support the foundation’s work may be made here.