Tunnel to Towers 5k in Big Pine Key, Nov. 8, 2025 @ 8:30 a.m.
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 8
"On September 11, 2001, a firefighter named Stephen Gerard Siller, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear. Stephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others." ("Stephen's Story" by Tunnel to Tower Foundation)
Honoring Our Nation's Fallen Heroes
This Saturday, November 8, at 8:30 a.m., the community will gather at Big Pine Key Community Park for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K—an event that’s about much more than running.
The morning will begin with remarks from Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina and Sheriff Rick Ramsay, setting the tone for a day of remembrance and support. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, created in the wake of September 11, 2001, carries on a powerful mission: to honor our nation’s fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes, and their families.
Email bigpinekeyrun@t2t.org here.
About Tunnel to Towers Foundation
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a nationally recognized nonprofit that honors the sacrifice of FDNY firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller, who gave his life on September 11, 2001. The foundation serves those who continue to risk everything for others. Since its founding, the organization has become one of the most trusted charities in the country, dedicating most of its donations directly to programs supporting veterans, first responders, and their families.
The Foundation’s mission is simple yet profound: to ensure that the families of fallen heroes and catastrophically injured service members are never left behind. It does this by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and the families of fallen first responders with young children, as well as building custom smart homes for severely injured veterans and first responders. These smart homes are designed to restore independence, with features like automated doors, voice-activated systems, and accessible bathrooms—details that make daily life possible for those who sacrificed their mobility in service.
In recent years, Tunnel to Towers has expanded its mission to include eradicating veteran homelessness. By 2025, the Foundation had helped more than 17,000 homeless veterans find housing and support services. It has also delivered nearly 2,000 mortgage-free homes to families of the fallen and catastrophically injured. Financially, the organization has committed over $1 billion across its programs, with 93–95% of every dollar donated going directly to services rather than overhead. That efficiency has earned it top ratings from independent charity watchdogs, including an A+ from CharityWatch.
The Foundation’s fundraising model is grassroots at heart: it encourages Americans to give just $11 a month, a small but steady contribution that fuels large-scale impact. In 2022 alone, Tunnel to Towers raised nearly $292 million in cash contributions, and its reach has only grown since.
For communities across the country—including here in Florida—the Foundation’s work is visible and personal. Families who once faced the loss of a parent or the challenges of catastrophic injury now have stability, dignity, and a place to call home. Tunnel to Towers has become more than a charity; it is a living memorial to sacrifice, and a reminder that service and solidarity can change lives.
Sources:
Fox News, Tunnel to Towers CEO lays out ambitious goals for 2026 (Oct. 2025)
CDA Press, Thanking Tunnel to Towers (Nov. 2025)
Tunnel to Towers Foundation Fact Sheet (2025)
CharityWatch, Is Tunnel to Towers Foundation a Good Charity? (2024)
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