The Tunnel to Towers is honored to pay for the home mortgage on the behalf of late former FDNY firefighter Derek Floyd family. This the family called as ‘a miracle’ from the KINDNESS Home Foundation.
Floyd oxygen-starved and died last month, leaving his wife Christine with nothing to pay bills that appeared after his termination a quarter ago, exposed The Post with by the weekend.
“I can still remember that email which forced me to stop my car at the side of the road as I had stopped crying.” This was Christine who had come forward to share her story Friday. “The effect of this storm is the miracle that only happens with the willing of God Himself.”
“I cannot express how great I am thankful to Frank Siller from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation not only for assistance with my family proving to be very difficult after Derek’s death. I am sure Derek was very thankful and proud that his service to his country is being returned and paid off. This is the greatest honor my family can adopt,” she added.
The foundation, which was named after the path of fallen firefighter Stephen Siller took after the 9/11 attacks through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, confirmed the donation to the Post on Friday.
“Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller spoke to Christine and let her know her mortgage would be paid in full,” read a statement from the non-profit.
The donation was hailed by Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Queens), saying, “It’s great to see the Tunnel to Towers Foundation step up to support the family of a true American hero during their time of need.”
“The Floyds should never have been in this situation in the first place, but I am glad to see there are amazing organizations out there who will step up to the plate to make things right when the city fails,” she said. The amount of the mortgage payment wasn’t disclosed.
The Uniformed Firefighters’ Association hailed the move.
“The UFA would like to thank Frank Siller for coming to the assistance of FF Derek Floyd’s family,” said Uniformed Firefighter Association President Andrew Ansbro said in a written statement.
“The work that you do through Tunnel To Towers continues to honor your brother firefighter Stephen Siller’s legacy by being a hero to families in need.”
Floyd was let go by the department late last year along with 10 other probationary firefighters who were never able to finish the academy as the city was looking to cut costs across nearly every city agency to cover the migrant crisis.
The 38-year-old marine vet suffered a heart attack in 2019 while he was in the FDNY academy — and then worked for four and a half years in the department’s ceremonial office.
