This article appeared in the May 2014 issue of Organic Hudson Valley.  (A direct link can be found under Links to Articles).

John Ponte got involved with the Tunnels to Towers Foundation after reading an article in a local newspaper about Brendan Marrocco, who, like Ponte, is from Staten Island. Marrocco was the first surviving quadruple amputee from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, meaning he has lost all or part of all four of his limbs. Ponte was inspired by the story, and wanted to do something to help. “The article talked about how the foundation was going to build Brendan a new home, so being in the automation business, I called and volunteered my services,” Ponte said.

Automation is computer controlled programming that allows users, or residents, to adjust their utilities to function at optimum efficiency for their daily routines, resulting in less energy usage with maximum benefit of utility function for the resident. Ponte serves as the director of Smart Home Technologies and had a background that fit well with the needs of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation and their work to provide homes for injured veterans.

Since he began volunteering with the foundation, Ponte has worked with them through the Building for America’s Bravest program, which works to build smart homes for those service members returning home with the most catastrophic injuries. He begun building homes in multiple states across the country, including Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina. These homes are designed to meet the individual needs of the injured residents through what the foundation refers to as adaptive technologies, which allow the residents to live more independently and not have their quality of life degraded by their injuries.

Ponte incorporates green energy aspects into the construction process through his work with automation to create energy efficient utility usage. “We design our homes with highly efficient products and also a lighting system that turns the lights on and off when someone enters or leaves the room,” Ponte explained. The system is also set up with a programmable function that lets residents adjust the settings on their lights, allowing them to turn the lights on at different percentages throughout the day. “We also use programmable thermostats that will change the temperature automatically throughout the day,” Ponte added.

His work with the foundation has included local construction projects in the Hudson Valley as well, with one home built in Albany, and another scheduled to begin construction next year.

The Tunnels to Towers Foundation was set up to honor the life and actions of Stephen Siller, who died on September 11 when he ran into the Twin Towers to save others, an action that cost him his life.

For anyone, like Ponte, interested in participating in the work done by the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, there are multiple ways to help, and they don’t even require construction experience. In fact, it’s okay if you barely know how to change a light bulb.

Tunnels to Towers holds “Never Forget” programs that include a New York City Run, a 5K run and walk series, and a Brother for Brother program associated with the run/walks that involves support for injured firefighters. Another example of a way to participate is exemplified by Ponte himself, who serves as the Director of Bikers for America’s Bravest, which is an aspect of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation that works to bring motorcycle organizations together to raise money, which then goes to support the Building for America’s Bravest program. They can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BikersforAmericasBravest.

Information on all of these programs, as well as how to get involved and help, can be found on the organizations web site, tunnels2towers.org.