NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced on Tuesday the expansion of its T2T Student-Athlete Advocate Program, adding two new students to the growing initiative.
The two students, Ryan Tursellino, a sophomore soccer player at Salisbury University, and Paul Maguire, a freshman cross-country runner at Clemson University, join the list of impressive student-athletes from across the country to represent the Foundation.
The program, launched in September 2021, is designed to help current student-athletes expand their personal brands while promoting the organization's mission to honor our first responders, military veterans, and their families.
“We are excited to grow the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocate Program and bring on these amazing athletes to continue the Foundation’s mission to do good. Their inspiration to honor the lives of America’s heroes and spread awareness amongst their peers makes them a perfect fit for the program. We hope they will influence younger generations to do the same,” said Tunnel to Towers CEO and Chairman Frank Siller.
On July 1, 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that all student-athletes would have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. Student-athletes can now engage in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) activities consistent with the state’s law where the school is located.
Chosen Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocates are expected to become familiar with the organization’s mission and talking points, participate at T2T events across the country, and engage with T2T followers through content creation on the Foundation’s website and social media channels.
The T2T Student-Athlete Advocate Program is driven to connect current student-athletes to the mission of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation by delivering critical messages to a younger demographic of Americans to ensure we “Never Forget” the sacrifices first responders and military members make for our country every day.
This year, the Foundation is delivering over 200 mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, Gold Star families, families of first responders who leave behind young children, and more than 3,000 housing units to combat veteran homelessness.
To date, Tunnel to Towers has delivered over 1,000 mortgage-free homes to our nation’s heroes and committed over $500 million across all of our programs.
For more information on the student-athletes:
Ryan Tursellino is a sophomore at Salisbury University and features as a midfielder on the Sea Gulls’ Women's Soccer team. Ryan’s father, Port Authority Police Officer Steven Tursellino, died in September 2013 due to 9/11-related cancer. The Foundation paid the mortgage on the Tursellino family’s home in September 2021.
The Hauppauge, NY native came off the bench and scored the game-winning goal in the 2023-24 season opener against Greensboro on September 1st. Tursellino’s go-ahead, 30-yard strike happened to be the first shot attempt of her Sea Gull career.
“I am honored to be chosen to represent the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Student-Athlete Advocate Program. I’m excited to be given this platform to help as many families as possible and carry on the Foundation’s mission of ‘Let Us Do Good.’” - Ryan Tursellino, Salisbury Women’s Soccer.
Paul Maguire, a first-year student-athlete at Clemson, joins one of the nation's best collegiate Track and Field programs this fall. The freshman distance runner placed 19th in his first national 8K race at last month's 2023 Eye Opener Cross Country Festival.
Maguire’s father is a Captain for the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) and inspired his son to support the Foundation. Paul wants to help raise awareness for an honorable cause and wants to participate with the National Run, Walk, & Climb Series team.
“I am honored to have the privilege of representing one of America’s most compassionate charitable organizations, giving back to the ones that sacrifice the most for us.” - Paul Maguire, Clemson Track & Field.
About the Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to “do good” by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001. Visit T2T.org to learn more.
Follow @Tunnel2Towers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Additional assets for coverage are available upon request.
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