Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K

Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a Staten Island, New York, nonprofit provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders with young children. It also builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

The foundation was established in December 2001 in honor of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who died during 9/11, is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and ensuring Americans never forget the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The charitable organization raises funds through many efforts including the Tunnel to Towers Pittsburgh 5K run and walk. In it’s third year, the 5K will begin at 8 a.m. Sep. 9 at Canon-McMillan Stadium, 1 N. Jefferson Ave., Canonsburg.

About 500 local participants collectively raised $106,000 in 2022. The fundraiser is one of more than 80 events in the foundation’s National Run, Walk and Climb Series, all planned by volunteers. This year’s event will include displays and interactions with the FBI, state police, Navy and local first responders, and entertainment for the second year.

Kim Sheehan, a 53-year-old mother of three from Washington County knows first hand how important the fundraising is after her husband, Tim, died at 50 from a heart attack in February 2021 while on duty as California Borough’s police chief. She got back on her feet with the help of a monetary gift from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Grateful to the charitable organization for its assistance, Sheehan and her children are participating in the 5K. The Sheehans began participating in 2021 with a small team of family, friends and firefighters. The team has been growing ever since in hopes to help ease the financial burden for other families of fallen heroes.