Tunnels to Towers: New Donations Keep Building as 5Ks Roll Across the Country
In the first week of November 2026, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation announced nearly $190,000 in new support: a $34,941 corporate gift from Toshiba, $55,000 raised by Mirabito customers, and a $100,000 donation triggered by a streaming milestone. Meanwhile the 5K season keeps moving, with events headed to Santa Rosa, Huntsville, Acadiana, Bluffton, The Villages, and Sacramento this month. As a U.S. Army veteran REALTOR who follows this mission closely, here is what is happening and how you can join in.
Three Big Gifts in Three Days
On November 3, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions announced a $34,941 donation for 2026, continuing a tradition of supporting the foundation that now totals more than $183,000 in lifetime giving. The same day, Starkweather & Shepley Insurance delivered a corporate donation at 3 World Trade Center in New York.
On November 4, Mirabito announced that customers raised $55,000 through its September "Mirabito Cares Round Up" campaign across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. And on November 5, musician David Worby's 100,000-stream milestone triggered a $100,000 donation split between Tunnels to Towers and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
These are the quieter wins that rarely make the evening news: companies and communities stacking small contributions into life-changing sums. Every dollar goes to the same mission, mortgage-free homes for veterans, first responders, and the families of the fallen.
The November 5K Trail Keeps Rolling
The foundation's signature 5K Run & Walk series barely pauses. After the inaugural New Orleans 5K on November 1 and the record-setting TCS NYC Marathon team the same day, the calendar for the rest of the month includes:
- Saturday, November 7: Santa Rosa, California and Huntsville, Alabama 5Ks, plus the St. John's Golf Classic.
- Sunday, November 8: the Acadiana 5K and the 6th annual Bluffton, South Carolina 5K at Rose Hill Plantation.
- Saturday, November 14: the The Villages, Florida 5K and California's Sacramento 5K at William Land Park.
Registration is open at t2t.org, with most events offering short and long course options, family fun, and a chance to honor a hero in your life. You do not have to be a runner: many events welcome walkers, strollers, and teams.
The 343 Commitment and Veterans Villages
Under its year-long 343 Commitment, the foundation is delivering 343 mortgage-free homes in 2026, one for every FDNY member lost on September 11, 2001, with 55 announced on September 11 itself. Across its 25-year history, the foundation has now delivered more than 2,000 mortgage-free homes, and Veterans Villages, pairing affordable housing with support services for veterans, continue to break ground and open across the country.
Veterans Village milestones have been busy this fall: the Southfield, Michigan village opened in October, and the Northfield, New Jersey groundbreaking followed. My earlier posts cover those milestones in depth if you want the full picture.
Why I Follow This Mission
Service Before Self is how I run my business, and it is the same principle that runs through the Tunnel to Towers mission. A stable home changes everything for a veteran family: security for kids in school, peace of mind on a fixed income, and a foundation for the future. That is why I support this foundation, why I write about it, and why I built Sam's Heroes to give back to veterans, first responders, teachers, nurses, and special-needs families at closing on this very site.
You do not have to run a 5K or write a large check to be part of it. A small donation, a share on social media, or an hour at a local event all move the mission forward. Every home paid off, every village built, every runner who crosses a finish line for a hero family is a promise kept.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I register for a Tunnels to Towers 5K?
Registration is open at t2t.org for November events including Santa Rosa and Huntsville (November 7), Acadiana and Bluffton (November 8), and The Villages and Sacramento (November 14). Most events welcome runners, walkers, strollers, and teams.
Where do Tunnels to Towers donations go?
Donations fund mortgage-free homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders and for Gold Star and fallen first-responder families, plus Veterans Villages that pair housing with support services. Under the 343 Commitment, the foundation is delivering 343 mortgage-free homes in 2026.
How can I help if I cannot run or donate much?
Share the mission, volunteer at a local event, or make a small recurring gift. Charitable groups frequently turn modest donations into meaningful contributions, as the Mirabito and Worby stories show. Every bit of support helps a hero family.
“Real estate is about people, not just properties. And this mission is about families who gave everything for us. Service Before Self is how we honor them, whether we are running a 5K, writing a check, or helping a veteran find home.”
Sources: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions donation announcement, GlobeNewswire, November 3, 2026 ($34,941 for 2026, lifetime giving past $183,000); Mirabito customers raise $55,000 for Tunnels to Towers, WBNG, November 4, 2026; David Worby's streaming milestone triggers $100,000 donation to Tunnels to Towers and the Gary Sinise Foundation, Music Industry Weekly, November 5, 2026; Tunnel to Towers Foundation events calendar and RunSignup listings for November 2026 5K events (t2t.org). Details verified as of November 5, 2026; please confirm event details and registration directly at t2t.org.
Got a Veteran or Hero Family in Your Life?
Whether they are buying, selling, or just starting to explore, Sam's Heroes and the veterans resource page can help. And if you are a veteran, first responder, teacher, nurse, or special-needs family, you may qualify for benefits at closing.
Sam Silver
U.S. Army Veteran · AI-Certified REALTOR · 22+ Years Experience
Equity Union Real Estate · CalDRE #01412755
Serving: Santa Clarita, Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, and surrounding Los Angeles County communities.