Latest news with #TunneltoTowers
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Foundation honors Lake County deputies attacked in deadly ambush
A local foundation honored the Lake County deputies who were ambushed while responding to a service call in Eustis last August. That ambush claimed the life of Master Deputy Bradley Link. Deputies Harold Howell and Stefano Gargano were severely injured. Julie Sulpizio is currently in jail awaiting a competency hearing. She is accused of playing a role in the deadly attack by luring the deputies to her home. Investigators say when deputies responded to a domestic dispute in the neighborhood, Link and another deputy entered the back of a house and were met with gunfire. Link was fatally shot several times. Deputies say Sulpizio's husband and two daughters took their own lives after the attack. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation honored those deputies for their bravery and sacrifice at its post-golf awards dinner in Lady Lake Thursday. 'For all their work, everything the do, we want them to know Tunnel to Towers will never forget and we're here to support them,' said Tunnel to Towers Foundation volunteer director John Manning. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is dedicated to supporting veterans, first responders and Gold Star families Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tunnel to Towers Foundation Honors the Memory of Fallen Servicemembers by Delivering Mortgage-Free Homes to 25 Gold Star Families this Memorial Day
Home recipients are in 18 states, stretching from coast to coast United States Army Sergeant Travis Daniel Tikka Minnesota National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Nord Staten Island, NY, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Memorial Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation underscores its commitment to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country by providing 25 mortgage-free homes to the families they left behind. For Frank Siller, Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO, easing this financial burden is the least we can do for those who laid down their lives for our country and our freedom. 'This Memorial Day, Tunnel to Towers honors the memory of those who volunteered to serve our great nation and did not make it home. Ensuring the families they left behind will always have a place to gather and celebrate their fallen hero is a tangible way to express America's gratitude and deliver a clear message that their loved one's sacrifice has not and will not be forgotten," said Siller. The Tunnel to Towers Gold Star Family Home Program honors the legacy of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country by paying off the mortgage or providing the surviving spouses and young children with mortgage-free homes. Some of the families who received mortgage-free homes this Memorial Day are: Air Force Master Sergeant Chrystal Stuckey Air Force Senior Airman Bradley Smith Air Force Senior Airman Charles Wood Army Staff Sergeant Ryan O'Hara Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves Army Staff Sergeant Nino Livaudais Army Sergeant Anthony Pagano Army Sergeant First Class Travis Tikka Army Specialist Robert Kirsopp Army Staff Sergeant Michael Nelson Army First Lieutenant Dustin Vincent Navy Chief Petty Officer Mattias Fiser Navy & Army Sergeant Gregory Ponci Navy Chief Petty Officer Derrick Demery Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Marquard USMC Gunnery Sergeant (EOD) John Fry USMC Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Troxel USMC Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Scott" Flurry Minnesota National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Nord Minnesota National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Nord lost his life on December 5, 2019, when his Blackhawk helicopter crashed during a maintenance test. He left behind his wife, Kaley, who was pregnant with their son, and their two-year-old daughter. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has ensured that the home CW2 Nord wanted his family to be in will be theirs forever. 'I am excited to be able to support and raise my children knowing that their father will never be forgotten…To be able to remain in the house that Charles worked countless hours on to finish for our family is priceless,' said Kaley. Army Sergeant First Class Travis Tikka enlisted in the Army after high school in 1984. He served his country for 22 years, deploying to the Middle East, Somalia, and Panama. He retired in 2006 and pursued a second career with the Social Security Administration. He was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma due to burn pit exposure during his deployments and passed on November 18, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Sara, and their children, Madyson and Mason. Tunnel to Towers paid off the mortgage on the family's home. 'Tunnel to Towers has relieved a huge financial burden… Instead of focusing and worrying about finances, I can now focus on what is best for my family emotionally,' said Sara Tikka, SFC Tikka's wife. 'We now have a future that looks a lot less scary. This organization will be with me and my children as we live our lives to the fullest, as Travis had wanted.' Join Tunnel to Towers' mission to honor the sacrifices made by fallen servicemembers this Memorial Day by providing mortgage-free homes for Gold Star families by going to and donating $11 a month. About the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to 'do good' by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001. Visit to learn more. Follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Attachments United States Army Sergeant Travis Daniel Tikka Minnesota National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Nord CONTACT: Trevor Tamsen Tunnel To Towers Foundation 718-987-1931 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tunnel to Towers Foundation Applauds New Executive Order Supporting Homeless Veterans and Pledges Continued Partnership with President Trump
Staten Island, NY, May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Statement from Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation: 'The Tunnel to Towers Foundation fully supports President Trump's Executive Order to establish the National Center for Warrior Independence on the West Los Angeles VA Campus. This bold and much-needed directive reflects our shared commitment to keeping America's promise to its veterans—especially those experiencing homelessness. Tunnel to Towers has long believed that no veteran who served our country should be left to sleep on its streets. We have already provided housing and critical services to more than 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide, and we are proud to operate a facility on the West LA campus—directly serving veterans in the city with the highest concentration of homeless heroes in the country. This new Center will not only provide shelter, but a pathway to recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency through housing, treatment, and workforce reintegration. It is a transformational step toward turning what was once a symbol of neglect into a national model of restoration and respect. I look forward to sitting down with President Trump to discuss a comprehensive plan to build upon this momentum and further the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's commitment to eradicating veteran homelessness once and for all. Together, we can restore dignity and deliver lasting change for the heroes who have sacrificed so much for this nation.' For more information about the Foundation's programs supporting homeless veterans, visit About the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to "do good," by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America Never Forget September 11, 2001. Visit to learn more and follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, X, and Instagram. CONTACT: Caroline Magyarits Tunnel to Towers Foundation 718-987-1931 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tunnel to Towers Foundation honors 9/11 hero and supports Gold-Star families
CHICAGO (WGN)—In Chicago's Edison Park, Midwesterners came together on Tuesday in the spirit of family, friendship, and first responders. Many watched the events of September 11, 2001 live on television, as some witnessed the tragedy in person. One of those people was Stephen Siller, whose story may be familiar to some. For Aric Grooms, it was inspiration. MORE FROM WGN'S BRONAGH TUMULTY: Jason House sworn in as Dolton mayor, marking end of Tiffany Henyard era Stephen Siller 'Began after 9/11, after Stephen Siller died in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when it collapsed,' said Grooms, who is the senior director of development for the Tunnel to Towers foundation. Siller, a New York City firefighter, had already completed his shift when he grabbed his gear and ran from Brooklyn through the tunnel to the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan to help. Sadly, Siller lost his life that day, but his memory carried on, as his brother Frank and their siblings set up the Tunnels to Towers Foundation in his honor. As such, the foundation annually provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families, building some from scratch, while renovating others. So many from across the Midwest gathered on Tuesday to take part in an event thanking sponsors and donors for their support throughout the years. Anyone interested in donating to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation may click here: Jeremy Ramirez, who was permanently disabled in 2008 during an ambush while deployed in Iraq, is among those grateful for the work of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. One day before his venture to Chicago, the foundation began remodelling his Lansing, Michigan, area home. 'Everything is going to be smart,' Ramirez said. 'I'll be able to control everything with my phone. My lights, HVAC, air, blinds, appliances. They're gonna put surround sound in the roof.' The military veteran added that work should be wrapped up in a couple of weeks. Ramirez notes that the foundation will also pay off his mortgage, which he and his family will find a huge relief. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines 'It's going to make me independent and for men and women like myself, they take care of everybody,' Ramirez said of the Tunnel to Towers foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Dana Perino's Book on Mentoring Is a Must-Read for Everyone
Commentary Dana Perino has a superpower. It is a special gift that has nothing to do with her position as a Fox News anchor or her former role as press secretary for former President George W. Bush. Instead, it has everything to do with her ability to guide young people as they navigate the minefields of their professional and personal lives. In short, Perino is a mentor. The Colorado native said the role is more than a calling; it's a vocation, something Perino realized about herself when writing her new book, 'I Wish Someone Had Told Me ...: The Best Advice for Building a Great Career and a Meaningful Life.' 'I learned quite a bit about myself writing this book, including where curiosity and self-awareness led me,' Perino said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. 'I've also found that one of my hobbies is mentoring. I actually really love it and I feel strong in my convictions about my advice, like the chapter of Dana's do's and don'ts. These are my tried-and-true pieces of advice I give to young people,' she said. Perino said her 'do's and don'ts' stick with her mentees. 'Don't wear Uggs in the office. Watch your exclamation points when talking. These points are so important to me because I am convinced that if young people don't put the brakes on, they will not get the job or the promotion. They will not be chosen to speak in front of the client. And it's holding them back and they don't even know it because it's just a way they speak amongst each other,' she said. Related Stories 4/11/2025 3/11/2025 Perino added, 'It is incumbent upon us as mentors, their managers, their friends, or their family, to gently pull them aside and say, you might not even realize this is happening.' Perino's book is a kaleidoscope of sensible advice, filled with pragmatic answers for young people looking for a way to design and ultimately navigate a career path from the day they graduate from college, technical school or high school. Perino speaks candidly of the advice she has received over the years from powerful figures in the military, government and corporate world. She includes moving stories from a wide variety of people that include country singer Dierks Bentley, Tunnel to Towers CEO Frank Siller, former 'Dirty Jobs' host Mike Rowe and fellow Fox News friends and colleagues Bill Hemmer, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters and Martha MacCallum. Perino admits there are people who are not mentorable, in part because they want instant gratification. 'They come to me and they just want the shortcut. They want me to tell them exactly what to do, and then they think, OK, if they do these three things, then they will become the White House press secretary, and my point to them is actually, no, that's not how it works,' she explained. Perino said one of the great things about this book is that a young friend of hers, Lauren Fritts, is listed as someone who has gone from mentee to mentor as her career has blossomed. That obligation is the underlying lesson from the book. Perino said when Bari Weiss of The Free Press asked if the book is actionable for everyone, she realized maybe it is not. 'I see the reader as someone who is ambitious, maybe starting in their high school years, and then they're graduating high school, they're in college, they're getting ready to come out of college all the way up through probably around age 45 or so in terms of advice you can take from this book and then act upon,' Perino said. 'If you're looking for the easy way out, this book's probably not for you. And that's OK; if you are going to be successful, for example, you have to be in charge of your own health. You can't outsource that. You can't wait until you're 50 to think about it. You have to actually make a commitment to yourself early on,' she said of something she is very honest about not doing when she was the White House press secretary. 'I paid a price for it, and it took me a long time to get over that. And becoming more healthy takes time to achieve and work to maintain,' Perino said. The advice in the book is ageless. In an era when people reimagine their lives pursuing careers in different industries, you still have to land a job in that new industry, you still need to remember the importance of clinching that first impression, and that professionalism requires a professional decorum. Perino said her 'meet my mentors section,' which included yours truly, was written with great affection. 'I feel so much gratitude for the people I work with and have come to know. They are part of this journey of my life. And that's wonderful to me.' Tidbits such as her friend Mora Nielson's advice to laugh about your life, Lauren Fritts' advice to give yourself grace, and Jessica Tarlov's advice not to worry about things today that may not matter five years from now were some of her favorites. 'That is because all of them are hard to do. I don't always give myself grace. I do worry, and I need to remember to laugh about my life more,' she admitted. Bush remains one of her most influential mentors. He told her if you live a life based on a set of principles, decision-making is less complicated, even if it is unpopular, because you've never strayed from your moral code. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
