OUR STORY

The Piper Foundation was born from years of hands-on work, muddy boots, late-night emergency calls, and the emotional weight that comes with loving animals who often have nowhere else to go. Long before the Foundation officially formed in 2024, founders Bryan Ede and Brad Rice were volunteering with local dog rescues—witnessing firsthand the relentless challenges these organizations face every single day.

Rescues are overwhelmed. Kennels are full. Foster networks are stretched thin. Funding is never enough—and yet the need never slows.

Those shared experiences sparked a simple but powerful question: What if we could build something that didn’t just help once—but helped rescues keep going?

The Piper Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to do exactly that. Named in honor of Piper, Bryan and Brad’s beloved Old English Sheepdog of nearly 17 years, who passed away on December 2, 2025, the Foundation carries forward her spirit of loyalty, gentleness, and unconditional love. Piper wasn’t just a dog; she was family. And her legacy is one of compassion in action.

Our mission is simple and urgent: to support local and regional animal rescues when they need it most. The Piper Foundation provides direct financial assistance, logistical support, and critical transport—helping rescues move dogs out of overcrowded shelters, into safer environments, and toward adoption opportunities.

As part of this mission, the Foundation utilizes Bryan’s personal aircraft to fly rescue dogs across the country—connecting overburdened shelters with rescue partners that have space, resources, and adopters waiting. When time, distance, or capacity stands in the way, we step in—because geography should never decide a dog’s fate.

What makes The Piper Foundation different is how this mission is sustained.

In Greeneville, Tennessee, we are developing Stillhouse Ridge, a 311-acre landscape resort built with purpose at its core. The revenue generated from Stillhouse Ridge—alongside donor support—will directly fund the Foundation’s work, creating a long-term, self-sustaining model that allows us to respond quickly, consistently, and at scale.

The Piper Foundation exists so rescues don’t have to say “we can’t.”
So dogs get out of overcrowded shelters and into second chances.
And so Piper’s legacy lives on—in every rescue supported, every flight to safety, and every life saved. 🐾✈️

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