The New York Commercial Real Estate & Contractors for Tunnel to Towers will host its Fifth Annual Cocktail Tribute on October 16, 2025, at Redeye Grill in Midtown Manhattan. This year's event will honor Bill Dacunto, Executive Vice President of Silverstein Properties, for his dedication to supporting military service members and first responders. Dacunto emphasized the importance of supporting those who serve, stating, "I hold our first responders and military personnel in the highest regard. They are truly angels among us, and we can never do enough to support them. 'Never forget' is more than a phrase, it's a call to action, especially for New Yorkers." The event brings together professionals from commercial real estate, construction, public safety, and building services who share a commitment to philanthropic giving.
Board Chair James A. Pirot highlighted the intrinsic connection between the built environment and first responders, noting, "Our industry depends on the safety and resilience of the built environment. From skyscrapers to schools, none of it stands without the life safety professionals and first responders who protect them. Tunnel to Towers reminds us why honoring these heroes is not just right, it's essential." The annual gathering has become one of the most significant philanthropic events in New York's commercial real estate calendar, featuring premium cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, and appearances by special guests. Sponsorships and individual tickets are currently available for those wishing to support the cause and honor the courage and sacrifice of service members and first responders.
Proceeds from the event directly benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nationally respected nonprofit organization established after the 9/11 attacks. The foundation provides mortgage-free homes to families of fallen first responders and Gold Star families with young children, along with smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. This event matters because it represents a significant intersection of corporate philanthropy and community support, bringing together industry leaders who recognize their responsibility to those who protect the communities where they build and operate. The gathering reinforces the ongoing commitment to first responders and military families two decades after 9/11, ensuring that the sacrifices of service members remain at the forefront of public consciousness within influential business circles.
The implications of this announcement extend beyond a single fundraising event. By honoring a prominent real estate executive like Bill Dacunto, the industry signals that support for first responders and military families is not merely charitable but integral to corporate social responsibility in sectors that directly benefit from public safety infrastructure. The event's growth to become a major fixture on New York's commercial real estate calendar demonstrates how philanthropic initiatives can become institutionalized within professional communities, creating sustained funding streams for critical social services. This model of industry-specific fundraising shows how targeted events can mobilize resources from sectors with particular connections to the causes they support, potentially serving as a template for other professional communities to develop similar philanthropic partnerships that address societal needs directly related to their work.
