Greenwich Native Dedicated To Raising Awareness For Tunnel To Towers Foundation

GREENWICH, CT — Even though Greenwich native Jack Holl wasn't alive when the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks took place, he's dedicated to making sure people of all ages never forget the events from that day, while also raising awareness about a good cause.

Holl, a graduate of Greenwich High School and a senior water polo player at Pennsylvania State University-Behrend, was recently announced as the newest member of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocate Program for spring 2025.

Caitlin Collins, a freshman lacrosse player from Rutgers University, was also named as a member.

"We are excited to expand the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocate Program and have Jack and Caitlin join the ranks of other incredible student athletes across the nation to raise awareness of the Foundation’s mission to do good," said Tunnel to Towers CEO and Chairman Frank Siller in a recent announcement. "Not only are they champions in their respective sports, but they are becoming champions for America’s military and first responder families. Their commitment inspires hope and ensures the legacy of our fallen heroes lives on."

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded by Siller as a way to honor the sacrifices made by first responders on 9/11, notably by his brother, FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who was off-duty on that day but responded to the World Trade Center after the attacks began.

Stephen got to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, which was closed off to traffic, and made the trek to lower Manhattan on foot wearing 60 pounds of firefighting gear. He later died when the towers fell.

The nonprofit has supported Gold Star and fallen first responder families with mortgage-free homes and specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

To date, according to Holl, Tunnel to Towers has delivered over 1,500 mortgage-free homes and committed over $1 billion across all of the nonprofit's programs. Additionally, over 10,000 of America's homeless veterans have been provided housing assistance and services to date.

The nonprofit's advocate program allows student-athletes to serve as brand ambassadors, representing the foundation to media, donors and sponsors. The program is made possible through the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) initiative, which began in 2021.

John Daniel Marshall, who was best friends going back to childhood with Holl's father, John, and served as best man at John's wedding, was an FDNY firefighter with Ladder 23. He died on 9/11 at the age of 35.

"He's been our family role model," Holl said of Marshall. "My dad definitely always talked about John growing up."

Holl credits his father with instilling in him a respect for all first responders and members of the armed forces. His family visits the 9/11 reflecting pools at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum each year to pay respects to the victims.

Holl's grandfather also served in the New York City Police Department for a number of years, so when he found out about the Tunnel to Towers Student-Advocate Program in 2021, he jumped at the opportunity to apply.

Holl believes there's a growing responsibility to ensure that younger generations not only understand what happened on 9/11, but to understand what came out of that day: selflessness, courage and unity.

"The Tunnel to Towers Foundation plays an essential role in making this possible. Through outreach, education, and their tireless support of Gold Star Families, injured veterans, and first responders, they ensure that the legacy of all those lost on 9/11 lives on in our hearts and minds to ensure that their courageous actions may never be forgotten," Holl added.

Holl noted that 93 cents of every dollar the foundation takes in goes directly towards programs and services.

Programs include the Smart Home Program, Fallen First Responder Home Program, Gold Star Family Home Program, Homeless Veteran Program, the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Institute, and Footsteps to the Future Endowment.

Holl, who is studying business economics, has one more semester of school left. Next school year, he'll be on the water polo coaching staff at Penn State-Behrend. After he graduates, he could pursue a master's degree overseas at Durham University in Durham, England.

For now, he's focused on Tunnel to Towers and spreading the nonprofit's message far and wide.

"Being a part of something so big and collective is an amazing feeling," Holl said.

For more information on Tunnel to Towers or to donate, visit the organization's website.