Staten Island, N.Y. - The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced on Monday the expansion of its T2T Student-Athlete Advocate Program, adding Valerie Veauthier, a  women's basketball player at Lenoir-Rhyne University during the 2023-24 season, to the list of impressive student-athletes from across the country to represent the Foundation.  

"We are excited to expand the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocate Program and bring on these amazing student-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," said Tunnel to Towers Chairman & CEO Frank Siller.  

Tunnel to Towers Foundation Student-Athlete Advocates are expected to familiarize themselves with the organization's mission and talking points, participate in T2T events across the country, and engage with T2T followers through content creation on the Foundation's website and social media channels. 

Veauthier says her drive to "Do Good" and give back through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation came from her stepfather, who is a U.S. Army veteran. Inspired by Stephen Siller's heroic story, Valerie hopes to promote a positive message through being a basketball player and a Student-Athlete Ambassador.  

"Advocating for T2T is perfectly in line with my values. I want to help tell "Our Story," the heroic act of Stephen Siller, to people across North Carolina, the Southeast US, and beyond, especially the younger generation of high school and college students." - said Veauthier.

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. 

"It is great to see our student-athletes using their NIL in pursuit of opportunities that leave a lasting impact," Assistant AD for Compliance Andrew Stafford said. "Valerie deeply cares about the mission of Tunnels to Towers and their work in supporting fallen first responder families. With this new era of NIL, her endeavor serves as a milestone on the national stage."

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.