Ballard worked as a Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security for more than ten years, where  he was deployed as an undercover operative. He spent much of that time as a member of the Child Sex Tourism Jump Team and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)Task Force. He is proud to have worked in this position, as Homeland Security Investigations and ICAC are leading the way in combating trafficking and child exploitation. Because of jurisdictional restraints it was not legal for the US  government to engage in many cases overseas, particularly where there was no prosecutorial nexus back to the United States; however a private organization would have more flexibility. After much contemplation, Ballard decided to leave his position, realizing a public/private partnership between the government and a non-profit entity would be the ideal solution that would truly eradicate child slavery once and for all. Encouraged by those he worked with, Ballard founded Operation Underground Railroad in December of 2013, and the organization has since collaborated with the U.S. government on more than 65 child trafficking cases.

O.U.R. salutes our nation's law enforcement officers and prosecutors at the federal, state and local levels who protect our country's children. Law enforcement professionals skillfully investigate, arrest and prosecute those who violate children. Our nation's police efforts to protect children in the U.S. are light years ahead of many, if not all other countries. O.U.R. acknowledges the expertise and extraordinary work done by these dedicated men and women who bravely battle the scourge of child sexual exploitation. O.U.R. shares the mission to save children and seek justice for those who victimize them, therefore O.U.R. is committed to enhancing law enforcement efforts by providing resources where budget shortfalls prohibit a child pornography, child exploitation or human trafficking operation from going forward. O.U.R. will also provide or facilitate child exploitation investigative training in U.S. jurisdictions where a need exists. Collaborating with law enforcement will reduce duplication, promote best practices and avoid other potential issues which might arise without close coordination. O.U.R. is privileged and honored to support our nation's heroes in this important cause to deter, disrupt and dismantle child exploitation and the trafficking of children in our nation's communities.

To request a speaker, please complete this SPEAKER REQUEST FORM. Please remember we are a small organization and unfortuantely are not able to make every event, but will do the best we can to accomodate your request. 

We are not hiring jump team members at this time.

All media inquiries can be sent to pr@ourrescue.org.

Operation Underground Railroad is a non-profit organization. Therefore, all donations are tax deductible. Currently donations can be made online or by mailing a check to:

Operation Underground Railroad

646 South Main St. #194

Cedar City, UT 84720

For those who donate online, you will automatically receive a receipt that can be used for tax purposes. Please keep the receipt for your records. Those who mail a check will receive a receipt in the mail. If you lose or misplace your receipt, please email info@ourrescue.org.

Email Newsletter: Once a quarter and once or twice a month we generate an email explaining the most recent events. If you would like to receive these updates, please click here.

Text Updates: If you are interested in being notified when children are saved, please text the word UPDATES to 51555.

Social Media: We will also be actively posting updates on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts. Please follow or like us on those platforms if you wish to stay involved day-to-day.

Currently donations can be made online or by mailing a check to:

Operation Underground Railroad

646 South Main St. #194

Cedar City, UT 84720

This is the current breakdown:

If you have made an error in making your donation or change your mind about contributing to O.U.R., we will honor your request for a refund made within 15 business days of your donation. To request a refund, call (818) 850-6146. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment, except cash donations will be returned via check. If you made your donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card.

The exact process is different for every employer, but any information your employer might require can be found on your donation receipt. Usually, after notifying your employer of your donation, the company will contact us and one of our representatives will handle the rest. If you have any questions about gift matching, please reach out to: grants@ourrescue.org

Each situation is different depending on travel, research, sting set-up, working with governments, aftercare etc., but on average one operation can costs anywhere between $50,000-$75,000 and each operation can save anywhere from 1 to 50 children.

Operation Underground Railroad rescue missions are always conducted in cooperation with government authorities. As such, when children are rescued, they are under the jurisdiction of the country where they are rescued and are placed into state custody. O.U.R. works with the government authorities to place rescued children in orphanages and rehabilitation programs which are predetermined and trusted by O.U.R. If family can be located, and it is determined that the family was not complicit, the child will be returned home to their family.

Perpetrators are arrested, tried and sentenced. We follow this process every step of the way to make sure they can never kidnap and harm children ever again. We work with government authorities by providing evidence to assist with the investigation and prosecution of these criminals.

Proceeds are used to rescue children. Items purchased at the store are not tax deductible. If you have any problems purchasing items online, please email info@ourrescue.org for further assistance.

If you do not like the product or it is the wrong size, we ask that you ship the item(s) to:

OUR RETURNS
1304 N. Redwood Rd. #131
Saratoga Springs, UT 84045

Please include a note explaining why the item is being returned. We will then refund the item or send a new one.

We are currently looking to fill the below positions:

DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS- THAILAND/SE ASIA
Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is seeking a professional Director of Investigations (DOI) to reside in Thailand and lead O.U.R.’s team and equities to combat child trafficking. DOI is responsible for coordinating support of local law enforcement officials and other partners by developing and executing cyber and undercover investigative strategies and activities while investigating child trafficking to ensure victims are rescued and perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted. Such support will include developing training curriculum and casework mentorship. A successful candidate must have strong diplomacy and communications skills; a solid background in criminal cyber investigations; possess a foundation of forensic digital evidence gathering and storage; can thrive in a dynamic environment; and be passionate about seeking justice. Apply HERE

We do not currently facilitate in the adoption process.

Please visit our Join the Fight page for more information on how to support O.U.R.

We are registered on both CharityNavigator.org and Guidestar.org.