Frank Siller is the Chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, one of the most recognised charities in the country. He started the organisation in 2002 to honour his younger brother, Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who died on September 11, 2001. Stephen ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with 60 pounds of gear strapped to his back to reach the World Trade Centre.
Under Frank’s leadership, that tribute has grown into a foundation that has committed more than $1 billion to programs for fallen first responders, injured veterans, and Gold Star families.
Frank Siller Age & Early Life
Frank Siller was born in 1953 on Staten Island, New York. That makes him approximately 72 or 73 years old as of 2026. He is the youngest of seven children born to George and Mae Siller, a devout Catholic couple active in the Third Order of St. Francis.
The Siller family faced hardship early on. Frank’s father died when his brother Stephen was just eight years old, and their mother passed away about a year and a half later. Stephen became an orphan at age ten, and Frank and his older siblings, who ranged from 24 to 35 at the time, stepped in to raise him. Frank has often recalled a phrase his parents lived by, borrowed from St. Francis of Assisi: “While we have time, let us do good.” That line later became the foundation’s motto.
Frank Siller: CEO & Chairman of Tunnel to Towers
Was Frank Siller in the Military?
No, Frank Siller did not serve in the military. Before he started the foundation, he ran a construction business. He owned Siller Brothers Inc., a concrete and paving contractor working across New York and New Jersey, and also invested in real estate. Even so, his life’s work now centres on veterans. The foundation builds mortgage-free smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and pays off mortgages for the families of fallen service members.
Career Highlights
In 2002, Frank helped organise a charity run that retraced Stephen’s path through the Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Centre. That event grew into the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk NYC, which now draws more than 40,000 participants each year and ranks among the top 5K races in the country.
Frank’s leadership has produced several major milestones for the foundation:
- Committed more than $1 billion to programs for heroes and their families
- Raised $539.5 million in contributions during fiscal year 2024 alone
- Directs 91 cents of every dollar raised to its programs
- Built mortgage-free, specially adapted smart homes for injured veterans and first responders
- Launched the Mae and George Siller Scholarship Program, covering full college or trade school costs for children of fallen heroes
- Reached more than 1 million people through the 9/11 Institute and the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit
Frank received the Christopher Leadership Award in 2019, an honour given to people whose work serves as a guide for others. In 2021, he completed a 500-mile walk from Washington, D.C. to New York City to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. He also hosts a radio show called Tunnel to Towers with Frank Siller on AM 970 The Answer.
Frank Siller’s Wife & Family Life
Is Frank Siller Married?
Yes, Frank Siller is married. His wife is Mary Siller, whom he met in high school. The couple has six children and several grandchildren, and they still live on Staten Island, where they remain active in their local parish and community.
Frank Siller Religion
Frank Siller is a devout Catholic. His faith traces back to his parents, George and Mae, who were lay Franciscans and members of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. Frank has shared stories about his father’s generosity, including one Thanksgiving when his dad gave away the family’s turkey dinner to a neighbour who had nothing. The foundation still opens its meetings with the St. Francis Peace Prayer, a tradition that traces straight back to Frank’s upbringing.
Frank Siller Salary & Income Sources
What is Frank Siller’s Annual Salary?
Frank Siller’s pay from the foundation has changed quite a bit over the years. Here’s what IRS Form 990 filings show:
| Fiscal Year | Base Compensation | Related/Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $100,000 | $33,576 | $133,576 |
| 2023 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 2019 | $350,000 | — | $350,000 |
That swing shows Frank adjusts his own pay based on what the foundation needs. He took no salary in 2023, and in 2024 he accepted just $100,000, a figure lower than what several other executives at the foundation earn. Senior vice presidents and executive vice presidents there pull in between $213,000 and $350,000 a year.
Where Did Frank Siller Make His Money?
Frank Siller built his wealth in the construction industry long before the foundation existed. He owned and ran Siller Brothers Inc., a concrete and paving contractor based in the New York and New Jersey area. He also held real estate investments alongside his construction work. Most of his personal wealth traces back to these private business ventures rather than his nonprofit salary.
Frank Siller Net Worth
Frank Siller’s exact net worth has not been made public. Multiple estimates place it between $15 million and $20 million, based largely on his pre-foundation career in construction and real estate.
That figure looks modest next to the size of the organisation he runs. Frank took no salary at all in 2023 and just $100,000 in 2024, so his personal income from the foundation stays limited. The foundation itself reported $652.8 million in total assets in its 2024 filing, but that money belongs to the organisation, not to Frank personally.
Given that Frank has led one of the fastest-growing charities in the country for more than two decades, often while taking little or no salary, his net worth reflects a career built more around giving than collecting.
Where Does Frank Siller Live Now?
Frank Siller lives on Staten Island, New York, the borough where he was born and raised. He and his wife Mary stay active in their local community and Catholic parish there.
