For a seventh consecutive year, the Tunnel to Towers Season of Hope is set to fulfill its commitment to DO GOOD and honor the sacrifices of America’s heroes.
This year, the Foundation vows to deliver 50 mortgage-free homes to deserving recipients nationwide by Christmas Eve, bringing the total to more than 200 mortgage-free homes for the year.
Thanks to the generous support of Americans across the country, by the end of this year, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation will deliver more than 200 mortgage-free homes to families across all of our programs: the Fallen First Responder Home Program; the Smart Home Program; and the Gold Star Family Home Program.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided the following heroes and their families with mortgage-free homes this holiday season:
The seventh annual Season of Hope began on December 1st with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s donation of a mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart home to injured veteran, United States Army Major Ivan Castro, as well as three mortgage-free homes to the families of fallen Delray Beach Fire Rescue Fire Lieutenant Ray Keith, Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department Fire Engineer Heath O’Shea, and United States Army Sergeant First Class Adam Scott McHugh.
In 2006, while serving as a First Lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Army Major Ivan Castro was injured in a mortar attack, resulting in permanent bilateral blindness. After recovering for nearly a year from his injuries, Castro continued to serve as an active duty soldier, becoming the only blind soldier to serve in Special Forces until his retirement. Tunnel to Towers renovated his home into a smart home to make it more accessible and paid off the mortgage.
Delray Beach Fire Rescue Fire Lieutenant Ray Keith lost his life to occupational colon cancer on October 18, 2023. At 31 years old, he had served for seven honorable years. Keith was certified in hazardous materials, a member of the DBFR Honor Guard, and a leader for the DBFR Explorer Program. He was named the 2022 Firefighter of the Year. He leaves behind his wife, Amanda, and his three children.
Fire Engineer Heath O’Shea proudly served on the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department for 20 years and was assigned to Tanker-54-C on the Southside. On April 13, 2024, he suffered a medical emergency while on duty at Fire Station 54, leaving behind his wife, Melanie O’Shea, and their two children, Simon and Lily.
U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Adam Scott McHugh lost his life on November 24, 2023 from service-related cancer. He enlisted in the military in 2007, following in the footsteps of his father, uncles, and grandparents. McHugh is survived by his wife, Chelsea, and their two children, Chloe and Thomas.
On December 2nd, it was announced that the mortgage on the homes of fallen Knoxville Police Department Police Officer Wisbens Antoine and Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department Fire Captain David Bricker will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
Police Officer Antoine collapsed during Basic Recruit training after completing a mile-and-a-half run. Trainers immediately began life-saving efforts and transported him to the hospital, where his condition worsened. He passed away on February 25, 2024. Antoine is survived by his wife, Kendra, and his daughters, Gianna and Geleah.
Captain Bricker lost his life on February 5, 2024 after suffering a medical emergency within hours after his tour of duty. He was just 45 years old and leaves behind his wife, Cassie, and children, Benjamin and Emily.
On December 3rd, it was announced that a mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart home will be provided to injured United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Mitchell Underwood, as well as the mortgage on the home of fallen City of Des Moines Fire Department Firefighter Malcolm Frantz Cortner will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
Lance Corporal Underwood was catastrophically injured on April 23, 2011 when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The blast took the lives of two of his fellow marines and he sustained a traumatic brain injury, a ruptured spleen, multiple fractures, and the amputation of his right leg.
Firefighter Cortner lost his battle to occupational brain cancer on March 2, 2025 at just 42 years old. He is survived by his wife, Sheena, and his children, Shealey, Madelyn, and Samuel.
On December 4th, it was announced that the mortgage on the homes of fallen Kern County Fire Department Fire Captain Michael Wells, United States Army Sergeant First Class Jason Granger, and San Francisco Fire Department Fire Lieutenant Stephen Silvestrich will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
Fire Captain Wells passed away on January 28, 2024, after a courageous battle with occupational-related kidney cancer. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their children, Colton, Caleb, and Christopher.
Sergeant First Class Granger was killed while conducting Military Free Fall Training in Perris, California, on December 27, 2013. He had over 2,000 jumps in his 11-year Army career. He leaves behind his wife, Calah, and their children, Tyler, Christian, and Ryder.
Fire Lieutenant Silvestrich tragically passed away on April 16, 2024 of a sudden heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Kristen, and his children, Ethan, Ella, Aidan, and Abigail.
On December 5th, it was announced that mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart homes will be provided to injured United States Army Sergeant William Stalnecker as well as injured United States Army Major David Ziegelhofer.
While serving our country, Sergeant Stalnecker sustained an injury to his right foot, leading to osteomyelitis, a bone infection, which resulted in above-the-knee amputation.
After undergoing surgery to remove a service-connected tumor from his chest and neck, Major Ziegelhofer suffered a stroke that left him with hemiparesis, cognitive deficits, aphasia, and memory loss. The road to recovery was steep and uncertain, but Ziegelhofer faced it with courage and determination.
On December 8th, it was announced that the mortgage on the homes of fallen Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns and Honolulu Police Department Police Officer Bill Sapolu will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
After 11 honorable years serving with the Illinois State Police, Trooper Clay Carns was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while removing debris on the highway, later succumbing to his injuries. He leaves behind his wife, Meghan, and his children, Gray and Ally.
Officer Bill Sapolu lived a life of service, having devoted 22 years to the United States Army National Guard with four combat deployments, and 21 years to the Honolulu Police Department. Sapolu’s life was tragically cut short when he was involved in a motorcycle crash while on duty in July 2023. His final act of service was donating his organs. He is survived by his wife, Christina, and his children, Kayla, Karly, and Kody.
On December 9th, it was announced that the mortgage on the homes of fallen United States Marine Corps Sergeant Jeremy Ryan McQueary and Waltham Police Department Police Officer Paul Tracey will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
While serving his third combat tour in Afghanistan, Sergeant Jeremy Ryan McQueary was tragically killed on February 18, 2010 from an IED blast. He is survived by his wife, Rae and son, Hadley.
After 28 years with the Waltham Police Department, Officer Paul Tracey was tragically killed when he was struck by a vehicle while working a construction detail. He leaves behind his wife, Kristin, and his children, Danika and Tyler.
On December 10th, it was announced that a mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart home will be provided to injured United States Marine Corps Sergeant Jesus “Chuy” Vasquez Jr. as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
After an initial leg injury from a parachute training accident, Sergeant Jesus Vasquez Jr.’s condition worsened with a subsequent motorcycle accident and improper healing of his injuries despite several surgeries, resulting in an amputation. Vasquez had to relearn to walk, and still has no feeling in his leg.
On December 11th, it was announced that a mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart home will be provided to injured Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Thomas Maher, and the mortgage on the homes of fallen Burnsville Fire Department Firefighter and Paramedic Adam Finseth and United States Army Sergeant Kenneth Anthony Kasten will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
While in the line of duty, Officer Thomas Maher was struck head-on by a drunk driver, rendering him critically injured with a broken spine, and paralysis from the chest down, also resulting in the amputation of his right leg below the knee. With the unwavering support of his family, Maher was able to overcome the physical and mental obstacles he faced as a result of his injuries and find a new purpose in life: advocacy against drunk driving.
Sergeant Kenneth Anthony Kasten tragically lost his life due service-connected cancer. He is survived by his loving wife, Natalie, and their beautiful children, Henry, Ella, and Oliver.
While assisting a SWAT team at a domestic violence call, Firefighter and Paramedic Adam Finseth was shot and killed as he was administering aid to police. Two police officers were also shot and killed, with another injured. He is survived by his loving wife, Tara, his son, Liam, and his daughter, Nora.
On December 12th, it was announced that a mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart home will be provided to injured Pennsylvania State Patrol Trooper Alex Douglass, and the mortgage on the homes of fallen Joplin Police Department Police Officer Jake Reed and New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare will be paid off as part of the 2025 Season of Hope.
Trooper Alex Douglass was shot while attempting to pull a wounded colleague to safety during a targeted attack on Troopers arriving and departing from their station. He sustained devastating injuries, resulting in a total right hip replacement, an artificial femur, removal of two feet of intestines, permanent damage to his sciatic nerve, and a below-the-knee amputation of his right leg. For his heroic actions, Douglass was awarded a Purple Heart.
At just 27 years old, Police Officer Jake Reed of the Joplin Police Department in Missouri was shot while responding to a disturbance call at a shopping center, killing another officer as well. Officer Reed remained in grave condition for several days until it was determined that he could not recover. He was taken off life support and in his final act of service, his organs were donated. He is survived by his wife, Bayley, and his son, Charlie.
Police Officer Justin Hare was shot and killed while responding to a call for assistance on the highway where a stranded motorist had a flat tire. After Hare offered to give him a ride into town, the motorist shot him, after which he was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. He is survived by his loving partner, Daizzare, and their three daughters.