Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Frank Siller

Chairman and CEO
Tunnel to Towers Foundations

Video is available one week after the event date

Moderator:
Eileen Heisman
Retired CEO
National Philanthropic Trust

Frank Siller has served as Chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation since its inception.

Siller, an entrepreneur, was the owner of several businesses including a retail operation and home building company. One of the great joys in his life was having his younger brother Stephen learning the trade and working with him. Although Stephen became a member of the FDNY in 1995, like many firefighters, he found himself juggling two jobs to support his young family, and there was no better place to work than by his older brother’s side.

While visiting Sgt Brendan Morocco, the first-ever surviving quadruple amputee, at Walter Reed Hospital, Siller tapped into his extensive home-building experience and offered to build Morocco a mortgage-free home. Siller was compelled to help Morocco reclaim his independence, founding the Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program in the process.

While visiting Sgt Brendan Morocco, the first-ever surviving quadruple amputee, at Walter Reed Hospital, Siller tapped into his extensive home-building experience and offered to build Morocco a mortgage-free home. Siller was compelled to help Morocco reclaim his independence, founding the Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program in the process.

For almost two decades, he has been serving our nation’s heroes, the veterans and first responders that risk their lives to protect us. To date, the Foundation has spent over $250 million to honor and support our first responders and veterans and their families.

Siller was named Honorary Battalion Chief by FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano in 2010 and was the recipient of the Department of the Army Commanders Award for Public Service in 2015. This is the fourth highest honor United States Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian. He received the NYPD’s Holy Name Society Presidents Award in 2015 and in 2019 was named the Police Benevolent Association’s Person of the Year and was awarded the Christopher Leadership Award for “the invaluable aid he brings to catastrophically injured veterans, first responders and Gold Star Families.”

In 2020, Siller was honored in a special Presidential Recognition Ceremony at the White House by President Donald J. Trump for the Foundation’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Frank and his army of volunteers have delivered food to firehouses and police stations and more all across New York and New Jersey,” President Trump said. “You have a lot of people that are very thankful, Frank. I've heard a lot about it. First responders and health care workers who have tragically lost their lives in the fight against the virus.”

President Trump continued, “Frank, I want to thank you for continuing to support our nation's heroes and, again, your family and your brother is very proud of you looking down.”

“We follow the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, who said, ‘Brothers and sisters, while you are here, while you have time, let us do good,’” Siller said. “That is our guiding. It's what we strive to do every single day: do good. Not just in memory of my brother, but all those who perished in 9/11 and those who have perished ever since – those that have given us this great country, like the frontline healthcare workers who are willing to die for you and me today.”

Siller and his wife Patricia are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of seven grandchildren and live in Staten Island, NY.