On September 11, 2001 America was changed forever. The World Trade Center became the target of a massive terrorist attack. The day of the attack firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift of work in Park Slope, Brooklyn and was on his way to go play golf with his brothers, when his radio went off saying the first plane hit the Twin Towers. When he heard this horrible news, right away he called his wife to tell her he would be getting home later than he expected. Stephen Siller never returned home that night to his family, instead he laid down his life for the people of New York City that day.

His brother Frank Siller started the charity “Tunnel to Towers” in honor of his brother Stephen. Siller said, “Since it’s a nonprofit charitable organization its difficult undertaking and you have to account for every dollar to make sure you distribute it the right way.” The majority of Siller’s employees are actually just volunteers, along with his seven siblings plus his children help run the charity. To keep money flowing into his charity he said “To help raise money we not only do the Tunnel to Towers Run every year we also host golf outings and we apply for grants and personal donations as well.” Normally for the Tunnel to Towers race they work nonstop from the race to the next year, but because of Sandy their efforts tripled helping out the people of Staten Island and Long Island. “Stephen would have been thrilled and amazed with all that the charity has accomplished in the last eleven years in his name,” said Siller. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been supported and received by the public very well; people really feel that they support the community of New York City better than some of the bigger foundation out there.