The 104 floors at One World Trade Center were climbed by 1,000 people on Sunday, raising money for first responders. The event was organized the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. It was created after 9/11 2001, when a plane attack by Islamic terrorists caused the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings and killed over 3,000 people.
Conor McGregor – the mixed martial arts star who pledged earlier this month to donate $1,000,000 to the foundation – applauded them for their efforts.
On its website, Tunnel to Towers describes the organization:
Since 9/11, we’ve been supporting America’s heroes. We provide mortgage-free houses to Gold Star families and fallen first responder family members with young children. And we build specially-adapted smart home for severely injured veterans and first-responders. We are committed to ending veteran homelessness, and to helping America never forget September 11, 2001.
Frank Siller, T2T Chairman and CEO, reflected upon the first responders that saved so many lives over 20 years ago.
Imagine the firefighters who saved people in those stairwells.
The people who are going up the stairs will be escorted out of the building by everyone else. It was America’s greatest rescue operation. We saved over 25,000 people, but lost many heroes on that day. We’re here today to honor them and never forget.
Stephen Siller, the brother of Siller, was lost that morning while he rescued other people. Frank recalls that he was on his way to home when a terrorist attack took place, but he stopped, grabbed 60 pounds and ran for help.
Since 2015, the tower climb has been an annual event. Frank:
We wanted to pay tribute to the heroism of our little brother that day. We started the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to build houses for severely injured servicemen and first responders and to pay off mortgages of Gold Star widows.
Our goals are very simple. Never forget Stephen’s sacrifice. Why not be good and do something at the same?
T2T has provided 30 homes to the families of U.S. servicemembers, first responders and military personnel killed in action.
Tunnel to Towers has provided 21 Gold Star Families and nine families of fallen first responders with prior military service with a home free from mortgage or paid off the mortgage on their current home.
“I thank all the families that understand the true meaning and significance of Memorial Day for their service and sacrifice.” We know that no member of the military serves alone. We are proud to support these families that have given so much to ensure we all can enjoy the freedoms America offers,” said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The 30 families are spread across 17 states, covering the entire country.
Siller describes his efforts and the families that he is helping:
It’s refreshing to hear some good news after all the bad. Frank Siller deserves a lot of credit for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
