The Rochester Rotary's recognition honors the work James Foley was doing as an international conflict journalist. He began in Iraq, then Afghanistan, then Libya and finally Syria. Foley was detained by Colonel Moammar Gadhafi’s Libyan regime in 2011 for 44 days, but was released. In January of 2012, Foley began what would be many trips in and out of northern Syria as a freelance photojournalist. In November 2012, Foley was kidnapped in northern Syria. Despite the dangers, it was important to him to keep trying to bring the world's attention to what was going on in the region.

After Foley's tragic death, in the midst of their grief, his parents and family somehow found the strength to establish the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. The nonprofit is committed to help American hostages around the world, their families, freelance journalists and disadvantaged children. Even before becoming a conflict journalist, Foley was driven to serve the voiceless. From 1996 to 2000, he served four years with Teach for America, teaching in inner city Phoenix, Ariz. He taught unwed mothers to help them achieve their GED while earning an MFA in writing at UMass Amherst. He taught English to inmates at the Cook County jail while studying at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. So his family hopes to follow his example in the Foley Foundation's work.

His mother told Rotary members the organization is already making progress on its goals. It has started a United States chapter of Hostage UK, called Hostage US, a non-partisan organization that provides free support and professional services to hostage families and returning hostages during and after a kidnapping. The Foleys have often related how they felt on their own during their ordeal, finding out later how that wasn't the experience of hostage families in other countries. His mother has testified to Congress on behalf of hostage families. In just its first 18 months in existence, the foundation has also already created fundraising events in the Seacoast community and beyond.

By honoring Foley, the Rochester Rotary also honors his family, the good they are creating in the world after experiencing such tragic personal loss, and the example they set for us all. At Rotary, Diane Foley talked about how lonely the family felt trying to get information from the government when Foley was being held captive. We hope that displays of support like the Rochester Rotary's makes it clear that the Foleys and all hostage families need never feel alone again.