In a private ceremony, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation welcomed injured U.S. Army Specialist Danielle Green back into her newly renovated residence in Northwest Indiana. The Foundation transformed her home into a specially adapted smart home and paid off the mortgage in full.
“I have to thank one person, God upstairs. You send up these prayers, not knowing if they will be answered,” Spc Green said, “I have so much gratitude for Tunnel to Towers for truly making a difference in tangible ways and changing my life and my son's life.”
Originally from Chicago, Spc Green attended the University of Notre Dame on a basketball scholarship and finished her collegiate career as the program’s 14th-leading scorer. After graduation, she became a teacher and coach in her hometown.
Her life’s path changed after witnessing the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“From the time I was a young kid, I dreamed of serving,” Spc Green said. “The military wasn’t a job; it was a calling. Donning the uniform and waking up every day knowing that I was contributing to something better than myself is priceless.”
After researching military branches, she decided to enlist in the Army as a military police officer. In 2004, she deployed to Iraq as her company commander’s top gunner, a major achievement, as only a handful of women served in her unit as military police.
"Basketball made me faster, stronger, and disciplined. It also gave me a family. When I left, I missed that brotherhood, and that is what led me to the Army. I wasn’t just looking for a career; I was looking for a family and a mission worth committing to."
Her life would change again on May 25, 2004, after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while guarding a rooftop in central Baghdad. The blast severed her left arm below the elbow, broke her right arm, and caused severe injuries to her leg.
“I was lucky to be alive,” Spc Green said. “A fellow Sergeant, who was an EMT in his civilian life, stepped in and helped save my life. Without him, I would have died on that rooftop.”
She was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.
Last year, she moved to Indiana to be closer to family. In recognition of her service to our country, Tunnel to Towers renovated that home and paid off the mortgage to help support her long-term physical and financial independence.
“It’s a game-changer for me. It’s peace of mind. I’m not worried every time I take a shower that I could slip and fall; it has made so many things simpler, and this whole process has shown me that I’m not climbing this journey alone. I’m deeply grateful for the way Tunnel to Towers saw me and my service and sacrifice and delivered a home where I can live with dignity,” Spc Green said.
Home Renovations Include:
- ADA-compliant master bathroom with smart toilet
- Smart home technology in the master bedroom and main living areas, allowing remote control of lighting, thermostat, sound, and security systems
- ADA grab bars in the guest bathroom
- Touchless faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms
- Pull-down shelving in kitchen cabinets
- Raised, accessible front-load washer and dryer
- Window blinds throughout the home
- Whole-home generator for emergency power
About The Tunnel to Towers Foundation
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, 25 years since FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller laid down his life to save others when America was attacked.
For 25 years, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has honored Stephen’s legacy by supporting the military and first responders who continue to risk life and limb in the line of duty.
To date, Tunnel to Towers has delivered over 1,700 mortgage-free homes to our nation’s heroes and committed over $1 billion across all programs.
This year, the Foundation has set a goal to deliver 343 mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders who leave behind young children.
You can join Tunnel to Towers on its mission to deliver life-changing mortgage-free homes to our nation’s heroes. Go to T2T.org and consider donating $11 per month.
Visit T2T.org to learn more and follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
