Rutgers Athlete Honors Family’s Firefighting Legacy Through Tunnel to Towers Foundation

With three generations of fire fighters in her family, Caitlin Collins was destined to get involved with programs to give back and help others.

The Rutgers sophomore, a member of the women's lacrosse team, was recently chosen as a Student-Athlete Advocatefor the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a national organization formed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to honor and support the country's first responders and military heroes.

She followed in the footsteps of her father, Ed Collins, who is involved in the T2T program as captain of a Union firehouse. Through her role with the foundation, Collins is also honoring her family legacy that includes her grandfather Edward Collins, a former Union firefighter, and her great grandfather Tom Melody, a former Battalion Chief at a firehouse in Newark.

"From a young age I grew up understanding what sacrifices looked like - navigating holidays and birthdays, graduations and lacrosse tournaments around my dad's shifts - and I think T2T is my way of giving back," said Collins, a resident of Morristown.

Student-athletes selected for the program, launched in Sept. 2021 for the 20^th anniversary of the attacks, help promote the mission of the foundation that works to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children. The foundation, which has committed more than $1 million to programs, also helps build specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders and is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness.

Nick Diamantis, manager of media relations for the foundation, was immediately impressed with Collins's resume.

"She detailed her personal background quite adamantly, and when we saw her application we were like, 'This is someone we have to bring into this program. She couldn't be a better ambassador.' Her story is incredibly touching," he said. "She's very passionate about what she stands for, what she believes in, and is a very, very, vocal presence. Not just in the locker room, but on campus as well."

This past spring against Stony Brook University, Rutgers dedicated the competition as being "My College Game," with each player joining a foundation to support. "For me it was a no-brainer to choose T2T," Collins said.

Collins volunteered to hand out medals and bottled water to those who climbed the 104 stories during the foundation's annual New York City Tower Climb at One World Trade Center in June, an event honoring the sacrifices of 9/11 heroes. Though she didn't have to walk the 104 stories (she took an elevator), she had to report to the building at 4 a.m., where she was stationed in the observatory deck.

Of all the events in which Collins has participated, she said the Tower climb had the greatest impact.

"Even though growing up understanding the sacrifices, Tunnel to Towers has opened my eyes to see many different things and that first responders sacrifices are so much more than what I ever thought,'' Collins said. "I understand more of what first responders and military families go though than I did prior to my involvement with T2T."

She will be involved in a 5K run in New York City on September 29. A possible conflict with lacrosse might keep her from taking part, though her involvement will include promoting the event as well as fundraising.

"Right now," Diamantis said, "her main responsibility to the foundation is making sure she is very present on her social media platform, promoting events we have throughout the year, and has total freedom to take part in any events."

This month the foundation plans to announce mortgage payoffs to 20 first responder families to commemorate 9/11 and is also planning a Veteran's Day golf outing. The foundation is also focused on planning for the 25th anniversary of the attacks next year.

The young athlete's parents are not surprised she is dedicating her time to support the foundation.

"She grew up in a firehouse, my wife is a teacher, so the Tunnel to Towers hit home for her,'' said her father, Ed Collins. "Her response was a no-brainer. It took hold of her, so if she could help in any way she'd give back."

Pursuing college athletics is something else she shares with her family.

Her father was drafted out of Union High School by the Milwaukee Brewers. But after reaching high-A ball he enrolled at Montclair State University where he became a record-setting quarterback. Her mother Maggie played soccer at MSU.

"She's very intense, an extremely hard worker, and I think that gives her the edge to turn that switch." her father said.

"Athletically," he added, "I'd say she definitely gets her speed from her mom. As a player I was a little intense, so she gets that's from me."

Diamantis also can't say enough about the new Student-Athlete Advocate.

"She is incredibly charming, she's super bright, very, very outgoing. She is the perfect representative that we have for the Student-Athlete program,'' Diamantis said. "We look for people who aren't afraid to show their pride and are proud to talk about their personal stories, and their main priorities are to help others and make sure no one else is left behind."