Press Release:
Charlotte to Host 9/11 Run Honoring Soldiers and Emergency First Responders
RADCLIFF, KY – USA Cares is honored to announce that Charlotte, North Carolina has joined the growing number of cities nationwide that will be hosting a “Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers” walk/run to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
This event began in New York City in the aftermath Sept. 11, 2011 to honor firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran eight miles in full gear from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers that morning. Some 25,000 souls were rescued that day, but Siller and 342 of his fellow firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice. While over 25,000 people from around the world participate in the New York run annually, the goal this year is to have a run in at least 343 communities to represent those fire fighters that died.
Charlotte’s Tunnel to Towers run will be part of the Time Warner Cable BBQ and Blues Festival the weekend of September 11. Beginning at the North Carolina Music Factory, the walk/run will honor the men and women who serve as first responders, and also the nearly two million service members who have served in the defense of our nation since 9/11
The event will benefit a variety of local Charlotte charities; North Carolina’s post 9/11 service members and veterans directly through the non-profit organization USA Cares; and emergency first responders through the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
“The Charlotte Sports Commission (CSC) is honored to partner with the Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. This race will be in addition to the CSC's Hog Jog which will be expanding to a 10K.. We look forward to creating another fun and exciting component during the Time Warner Cable BBQ and Blues weekend," says Jeff Beaver, Executive Director of the Charlotte Sports Commission.
In addition to the Tunnel to Tower event, run organizer Tom Stanton said there would be live music, food, and activities for children too. “My goal is to make this the best of the many races across the country, and I think that we can do it,” said Stanton.
To help sponsor, support or volunteer for the Stephen Siller event, contact tom@tunneltotowercharlotte.com or 704-778-2248, or visit http://www.tunneltotowercharlotte.com for more information. Organizers are also seeking community members to serve on the event’s board, which will include firemen, paramedics, military service members, and more.
For more information on the organizations mentioned, visit www.usacares.org and www.tunneltotowers.org.
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About: USA Cares
USA Cares is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that helps post 9/11 military families bear the burdens of service with financial and advocacy support. Its mission: To help with basic needs during financial crisis, to assist combat injured Veterans and their families and to prevent private military home foreclosures and evictions. In seven years, USA Cares has received over 27,000 requests and responded with more than $7.7 million in grants. Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares web site, http://www.usacares.org/ or by calling 1-800-773-0387. USA Cares has been selected to help make the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run a nationwide event that honors first responders and service members on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 . For more information on USA Cares contact John Revell, jrevell@usacares.org or call (270) 352-5451 x101.
About: The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
The sole purpose of the Foundation is to honor the legacy of love given to us by Stephen Siller, FDNY, who laid down his life on 9/11, by “doing good” in his name. The mission is to follow Stephen’s footsteps through support of children who have lost a parent, firefighters, and military who have been seriously injured and sacrifice their quality of life in the line of duty. This foundation is a real and concrete way to Follow the Footsteps of an American hero. The Foundation has established LET US DO GOOD PROGRAMS as our way to make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of others. These programs, In the Line of Duty and In the Name of Love, bring hope to grieving children, and healing to firefighters and families of our military, who sacrifice life and limb in the line of duty. In the Line of Duty programs support the Weill-Cornell Burn Center and Burn Centers across America, and restores shattered lives by building homes for surviving quadriplegic servicemen returning from combat. In the Name of Love programs bring love and hope to the most broken and vulnerable children. The Foundation does this through scholarship awards for local children who have lost a parent; through the establishment and continued support of Stephen’s House of the New York Foundling for orphaned, abused and neglected children; and for scholarships to children of the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the Afghan and Iraqi wars. For more information on the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, visit http://www.tunneltotowersrun.org .
CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 2011) – Today Lionel NASCAR® Collectables, in partnership with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, unveiled a multi-car, on-track program which pays tribute to the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and helps raise funds to build homes for the only three surviving quadruple amputees of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – United States Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco, United States Marine Corps Corporal Todd Nicely and United States Marine Corps Corporal John Peck.
As part of the “Honoring Our Heroes” program, NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, David Gilliland, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart will drive special patriotic paint schemes which feature the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation logo during the September race weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
“I think it’s important for NASCAR to do something as a sport to honor all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and to remember American heroes like Stephen Siller,” said Howard Hitchcock, Vice President of LNC.
“Partnering with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to help make a real difference in the lives of three military heroes who have sacrificed almost everything for their country was something we, as a company, felt compelled to do,” he continued.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2001 by the family of Stephen Siller – an FDNY firefighter. Siller was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got the call about the attack on the World Trade Center. When he couldn’t drive his truck through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Siller donned 75 pounds of firefighting gear and ran through the tunnel to the towers to help rescue his fellow Americans. Siller lost his life as a result of his heroic actions.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each “Honoring Our Heroes” die-cast and associated merchandise will be donated to The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which has earmarked these funds for the construction of customized “smart” homes for wounded United States servicemen Marrocco, Nicely and Peck.
“We are honored that these NASCAR teams, drivers and sponsors and the folks at Lionel NASCAR Collectables have embraced our Foundation and its cause in such a big way,” said George Siller, Vice Chairman of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and brother of Stephen Siller.
“It means so much to us that my brother’s name will be remembered by the sport and that, in turn, his heroism will be used to better the lives of heroes like Brendan, Todd and John.”
To bring even more attention to the Foundation’s charitable efforts, David Gilliland will run the No. 34 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports on Sept. 10. Front Row Motorsports has donated Gilliland’s entire paint scheme to honor the legacy of Stephen Siller and to help increase awareness of the Foundation’s efforts to help the heroes of the U.S. military.
“I feel humbled to have Stephen Siller’s name on my car on such an important and emotional anniversary for our country,” said Gilliland. “And I hope that seeing the No. 34 Ford on track on Sept. 10 will bring a smile to those three soldier’s faces and let them know that their country cares about them and is thankful for their heroic service.”
Danica Patrick will drive a special version of the No. 7 Go Daddy Get Your.Net Chevrolet for JR Motorsports during the Sept. 9 Nationwide Series race at Richmond. Patrick's car will feature a star-covered design and a black paint scheme.
"Each star on the Go Daddy No. 7 Chevrolet represents a soul lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack," said Go Daddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons. "We will always remember 9/11. I'm glad to see NASCAR supporting this extraordinary tribute!"
During the Sprint Cup Series race on Sept. 10, Greg Biffle will drive the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion, Jamie McMurray will drive the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet and Tony Stewart will drive the No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet – all in patriotic paint schemes. The No. 7 “We Salute You” JRM Chevrolet driven by Josh Wise at Dover International Speedway on May 14 will also be included in the “Honoring Our Heroes” program.
Following the events at Richmond, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will take part in the 2011 Tunnel to Towers Run on Sept. 25. Tunnel to Towers is an annual run in Manhattan hosted by the Foundation in which thousands of runners and walkers retrace the steps of Stephen Siller, honor his legacy and remember the fallen of Sept. 11, 2001. This year for the first time, Tunnel to Towers Runs will be held in cities nationwide on 9/11 as a way to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 20tettext