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.