What is the mission and history of Tunnel to Towers Foundation?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to honor FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller and to assist military, veterans and first responders; its programs include mortgage‑free homes for Gold Star and fallen first‑responder families and specially adapted “smart homes” for catastrophically injured service members, and by 2025 the foundation announced a Season of Hope to deliver 50 mortgage‑free homes [1] [2] [3]. The group has high third‑party ratings for efficiency (CharityWatch “A+” and Charity Navigator 4‑star) while some reporting notes controversies and political donations that critics have flagged; those controversies are documented in media reporting cited in available sources [4] [5] [1].
1. Origin story: a brother’s vow turned into a national charity
Frank Siller founded Tunnel to Towers in the weeks after September 11, 2001 to honor his brother, FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full bunker gear toward the World Trade Center and was killed that morning; the organization’s name and early memorial events derive directly from that act [6] [1].
2. Mission and core programs: homes, smart‑home tech, and “never forget” events
The foundation’s stated mission is to honor Stephen Siller’s sacrifice and to support military, first responders and their families; its main programmatic pillars include providing mortgage‑free homes to Gold Star and fallen first‑responder families with young children, building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and running memorial runs/climbs and education programs tied to 9/11 remembrance [7] [5] [2].
3. Scale and recent activity: Season of Hope and home deliveries
In 2025 the foundation ran its seventh Season of Hope campaign, announcing plans to deliver 50 mortgage‑free homes between December 1 and Christmas Eve across 24 states; press releases and local news coverage in late 2025 note deliveries to Gold Star families and smart‑home renovations for injured officers [2] [3] [8].
4. Financial efficiency and third‑party ratings
Independent charity watchdogs give Tunnel to Towers favorable ratings: CharityWatch assigns an “A+” noting 93% of cash expenses go to programs and Charity Navigator lists a 4‑star rating; GuideStar/Candid profiles reiterate the mission and list the foundation’s major program areas [4] [5] [7].
5. Notable projects and innovations: Let Us Do Good village and smart homes
The foundation broke ground on a dedicated community called the “Let Us Do Good Village” in Land O’Lakes, Florida, featuring smart homes tailored to injured veterans’ needs; local and event reporting also documents individually adapted renovations that include ADA‑compliant features and technology to restore mobility and independence [1] [6] [8].
6. Controversies and critiques raised in reporting
Media coverage cited in available sources indicates controversy over some financial flows and political assistance — for example, reporting that funds raised ostensibly for 9/11 first‑responder families were used to provide financial help to a public official — and that has prompted scrutiny even as watchdog ratings remain high; those controversies are reported in the Wikipedia entry and not contradicted by the charity’s own materials in the provided sources [1].
7. How the foundation presents itself versus what outside sources show
The foundation’s own materials emphasize “never forget” memorial events, mortgage‑free homes, and smart‑home construction [9] [2]. Independent watchdogs confirm strong program spending and governance benchmarks [4] [5]. Independent journalism and encyclopedia‑style summaries add context about political ties and disputed allocations, showing that public perception of the group is not uniformly positive [1].
8. What is not found in current reporting
Available sources do not mention precise, up‑to‑the‑day totals of homes delivered across the foundation’s entire history beyond campaign snapshots, and they do not provide the full details of any internal audits or IRS filings within these search results; for those specifics, readers should consult the foundation’s filings and audited financial statements directly (not found in current reporting).
9. Bottom line for donors and researchers
Tunnel to Towers has a clear, mission‑driven focus on housing and rehabilitation for families of the fallen and injured first responders, demonstrable program activity (including large seasonal home deliveries) and strong charity‑watch ratings, while also being the subject of reporting that raises questions about certain financial decisions; prospective donors should weigh third‑party ratings [4] [5], review the foundation’s public financials, and read independent reporting [1] before giving.
Sources cited: Foundation materials and campaigns [9] [2] [3], watchdog and profile pages [5] [7] [4], local reporting and event coverage [8] [10] [6], and encyclopedia summary noting both history and controversies [1].