The Shute Family Foundation was founded by Dave Shute, a proud veteran who served more than twenty years with the United States Navy Seabees. Dave retired in 2016 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) after serving in both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. His military service instilled in him a lifelong commitment to honoring America’s heroes—not only those who serve, but also the families who stand beside them and those who care for our nation’s catastrophically wounded veterans and first responders.

Our mission aligns seamlessly with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org).

Nick Shute our oldest son, came to us one day and said let’s do a golf tournament for business. Now Kim and I don’t really play golf and we have no idea how to run a golf tournament but after some consideration we thought heck let’s do this. With 38 friends and family we held our first golf outing.

After securing the location and getting the menu set, we realized we were going to make $5-7.00 on each player after expenses. This is a problem because we were not going to make money on family and friends. Nick says just give the money to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation you’re a monthly donor.

We reached out to the T2T.org explaining what we were doing and asking them if they would take the money. They welcomed the gesture and we signed the agreement to use the T2T.org logo advertising this little outing. We agreed to give T2T.org %100 of the money raised after paying expenses. We thought we would be sending $300.00 to $500.00. We played the day after Thanksgiving in 2021 it was 45 degrees and drizzling the weather was miserable. We raised $1,800.00 that day and sent a check of $1,800 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

And that’s how it started. We met and exceeded all expectations. A huge success. Most importantly, the kids wanted to do it again. We now hold our Tunnel to Towers Golf Tournament each year on September 11th to remember those 3,000 Americans that lost their lives on 9/11 at the Twin Towers in NYC to terrorist.

2021 we raised $1,800.00

2022 we raised $5,000.00

2023 we raised $13,500.00

2024 we raised $26,500.00

2025 we raised 137,500.00 by the grace of God, we received a $100,000,00 anonymous donation

For 2026 our target goal is $50,000.00

, an organization dedicated to supporting Gold Star families, fallen first responders and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to families with young children, builds specially adapted smart homes for those severely injured in the line of duty and works tirelessly to eradicate veteran homelessness, and ensures that America never forgets the events of September 11, 2001.

Dave and his wife Kim reside in Suffield, Connecticut. They are the proud parents of four children and grandparents to five grandsons. Their family values and deep sense of gratitude for service members are the foundation upon which this organization was built.