Oppenheimer Employees Fundraise for Afghanistan Rescue Mission
Project Dynamo, a veteran-run nonprofit, is currently stationed on the bordering regions of Afghanistan. Their mission is to fly Americans, Afghans, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants out of the country and to the United States. Lt. Commander Bryan Stern, a close friend of Oppenheimer’s Deputy General Counsel, Jack McGuire, is helping to lead the efforts.
The privately run civilian airlift, Project Dynamo, is named in reference of the Allied forces evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II, which was largely successful with the help of civilian watercraft. Project Dynamo is entirely funded by directors and donations; to date, they have raised millions to fund these missions.
Pictured above: Jack McGuire (left) and Lt. Commander Bryan Stern (right) at Stern's Purple Heart Ceremony in 2021
This past weekend, Oppenheimer’s all-employee band, Exile On Broad Street, played a fundraising event for Project Dynamo. Jack, the band’s drummer, writes, “Exile On Broad Street was honored to help the fundraising efforts to support ProjectDynamo.org. The band’s very good friend, Lt. Commander Bryan Stern, called me just before the fall of Kabul and said that he and other Special Operations veterans and reserve officers, at their own cost, were flying to Kazakhstan to try to help Americans and Afghan allies escape Afghanistan through the north. This was a humanitarian effort that had enormous cost, without any government support. I spoke to Bryan from Afghanistan, and as of September 9 he was still there at the Mazar-i-Sharif airport, waiting with 6 planes to leave Afghanistan.”
Jack continues, “Though postings on social media and the band’s efforts playing at a fundraiser for ProjectDynamo.org, we have raised over $10,000 to date. That is a drop in the bucket, unfortunately, and there is still a dire need for more support. Exile On Broad Street will continue to do whatever we can until Bryan and his colleagues are home safely. Thanks to everyone who supported this effort!”
Pictured below: Exile On Broad Street's fundraising performance this past weekend. In order from L-R: John Stoltzfus, Jack McGuire, Diana Sur and Samuel Mann.
