It was an idyllic day on the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage when 125 golfers plus supporters turned out to raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This third annual Celebrity Golf Classic coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The sold-out tournament was hosted by former Los Angeles Angels first baseman and fan favorite Wally Joyner and chaired by Irv Zakheim.
The day began with a continental breakfast followed by a shotgun start. Post-tournament festivities commenced at 4 p.m. with a buffet reception that included a raffle, live auction and awards ceremony.
The City of Rancho Mirage was this year’s title sponsor. “Today was about more than fairways and scoreboards,” Mayor Lynn Mallotto said. “Tt was about honoring sacrifice and standing behind the heroes who protect our freedoms. Your participation turns remembrance into real tangible support for families who needed it most.”
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides assistance and services to injured veterans and first responders, was started by the family of New York City firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller, who had just gotten off duty on 9/11 when he heard on his scanner about an airplane hitting the World Trade Center. He turned around but found the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel closed to traffic for security reasons, so he put on 60 pounds of gear and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he perished while saving others.
In its nearly 25 years, the foundation has raised more than $1 billion and assisted 17,500 veterans with housing and wraparound services. This year, in honor of the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11, the foundation is delivering 343 mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families as well as catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, who will receive homes specially equipped to help them reclaim their day-to-day independence.
Announced in late 2025, the foundation has expanded access to golf for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. By providing adaptive equipment and specialized support, participants can experience the sport’s physical, emotional and social benefits while further reintegrating into their communities.
“It is a blessing for me to be able to come out and play in these golf tournaments,” said Scott Nokes, a former Marine corporal who lost both his legs and his eyesight after serving in Afghanistan. “It’s not just about a day of playing golf, but it’s about an event that gets people involved with Tunnel to Towers. Once they learn about the mission, they want to give back.”
Starting in May and culminating in September, the foundation will undertake an unprecedented national campaign to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. “Steel Across America” will transport an authentic 20-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center to communities across the U.S. This powerful symbol of reverence and resilience will visit landmarks, sporting events and town squares across America, creating moments of connection for those who lived through that traumatic time as well as educational opportunities for those too young to remember.
“Together, we can ensure that as we mark 25 years since that tragic day, we do so by continuing the mission of service, sacrifice and support for those who protect and defend us, ” Joyner said.
To learn more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or to make a donation, visit t2t.org.
Madeline Zuckerman is owner and president of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations Inc., a marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, California. Zuckerman is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a Desert Arc Champion, a member of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation and a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. She has been a guest reporter for The Desert Sun for 18 years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tunnel to Towers Foundation ensures 9/11 legacy is never forgotten
Reporting by Madeline Zuckerman, Special to The Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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