On July 16, 2025, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Let Us Do Good Village in Land O’Lakes, Florida, welcomed three injured veterans into their new mortgage-free smart homes through the Smart Home Program.
The specially-adapted, fully accessible smart homes were dedicated to United States Air Force Mater Sergeant Shawn Mullins, United States Army Specialist Steven Travis Maxwell, and United States Army Private First Class Charlie Figueroa.
The Let Us Do Good Village is a unique community of nearly 100 homes that will all be provided mortgage-free to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as Gold Star and Fallen First Responder families. The village features an accessible design throughout, creating an ideal support community.
On the sunny Wednesday afternoon, the dedication ceremonies included a raising of the American Flag, a ribbon cutting on the recipients’ new smart homes, and a key presentation to all three recipients. Shortly after, MSgt Mullins, SPC Maxwell, and PFC Figueroa were each given a tour of their new homes.
USAF MSgt Shawn Mullins served 30 honorable years with the Air Force, with multiple overseas deployments. Throughout his career, he played a vital role in numerous military operations, including Coronet Nighthawk, Northern Watch, and Southern Watch. Following his wing transition from F-15s to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Mullins continued his service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. In addition, MSgt Mullins helped load the fighter jets that flew to New York following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
MSgt Mullins medically retired in 2015, having endured multiple back injuries and surgeries, as well as a diagnosis of PTSD. In 2019, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune illness that attacked his nervous system and left him a home-bound quadriplegic relying on an electric wheelchair. He is eager to move into the Let Us Do Good Village and reengage with community life.
U.S. Army SPC Steven Travis Maxwell was inspired to enlist following the events of 9/11. He loved running in the morning with his team, training out in the field, learning new jobs, and teaching the younger soldiers. SPC Maxwell was deployed to Iraq, where he suffered multiple brain injuries and concussions, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, memory loss, and grand mal seizures.
Moving from Oregon to Florida, SPC Maxwell is looking forward to a safer, supportive future in the Let Us Do Good Village.
U.S. Army PFC Charlie Figueroa was inspired to enlist in the Army by his father and uncles, who are all veterans. Upon graduating from high school in 1977, he enlisted and was deployed to Germany, where he trained for combat missions focused on using rockets to counter enemy tanks.Â
In 2003, thinking he was having a heart attack, PFC Figueroa went to the emergency room. While there, he began to lose feeling in his legs, which led to doctors discovering a hematoma pressing against his spinal cord. Emergency surgery saved his life, but the injury left him permanently bound to a wheelchair. PFC Figueroa is ready for his next chapter in his smart home in the Let Us Do Good Village.
