By: Rick Gombar, Rick Gombar Insurance Services
It was opening day at Dodger Stadium. My older brother, Michael, and I arrived early to enjoy lunch in the Stadium Club. It was only 11:00 in the morning, but that did not stop us from ordering martinis to accompany the buffet. Soon a second round arrived, and by the time the national anthem played, we were loose enough to skip our seats and continue our conversation. That was when Michael brought up Vietnam, something he rarely did.
I asked him a question I had not planned: “When you were in Vietnam and in danger, did you think you were alone? Are you saying you didn’t realize I was with you every day?” His eyes welled with emotion, and I could tell he was reliving something only he knew.
I cannot explain where the question came from, but in that moment, I felt what he felt. We had a lifelong bond that made us more than two individuals. From childhood, we knew there were things I could do that he could not, and things he could do that I could not. Together, we were complete.
For a full year after Michael passed, I would not allow anyone to sit in his seat at Dodger games. I invited two people instead of three, leaving the first seat empty. Eventually, his spirit came to me and asked me to stop.
Today, that bond is fueling something far greater than anything I built during my 40-year career providing insurance services to the security industry. It has become a purpose that is both personal and powerful.
A Brother’s Inspiration
Michael entered the Army directly out of high school and rose into the elite ranks of the Green Berets, serving as a Special Forces field medic with advanced medical training. He completed two tours in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart, a chest full of medals, and the education he sought. What he did not expect was exposure to Agent Orange, which would later end his life at age 76. God bless him, he outlived two of the doctors who diagnosed him.
A few years before his passing, we met for dinner to discuss his annual charitable donation. He had noticed declining membership in the American Legion and the closure of posts across the country, prompting a search for a new nonprofit. For months, he researched organizations that honored both veterans and first responders. Ultimately, he chose the Tunnel To Towers Foundation.
Michael later learned that the Legion in New York was considering a $100,000 donation to the Foundation. Soon after, the check was presented with great fanfare. Witnessing this moment firsthand, I became an instant believer.
Simply put, Michael was my hero. I live a deeply spiritual life, and although he is no longer here physically, he continues to inspire me every day.
A Transformative Moment
December at the Marquis Hotel in Manhattan. The Tunnel To Towers annual gala. A black-tie dinner with 750 supporters and celebrity speakers including Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Dennis Quaid, Joe Piscopo, and Michael Douglas.
I attended in part to present my first $25,000 donation to launch a Matching Gift Program, but my true purpose was to meet with the Vice President of Development to discuss my vision for bringing the security industry into the Tunnel To Towers mission.
When President Frank Siller opened the evening, a guest unexpectedly pledged $1,000,000. After a standing ovation, Frank Siller challenged the room: “Let’s make it two million.” Within minutes, another million dollars had been pledged.
In that moment, I knew this was where I was meant to be. Best of all, I could feel Michael right beside me, urging me forward.
I began researching how the security industry could contribute. It became clear that manufacturers, distributors, dealers, central stations, service providers, publishers, associations, and even the industry’s 40 million residential subscribers could participate. Many could easily contribute $11 per month to support first responders and veterans.
The model was simple: start with alarm dealers, then employees, then subscribers. Tell them their contributions would be matched dollar-for-dollar. Large manufacturers and central stations could add annual donations to expand the matching fund.
To ensure long-term sustainability, I established a twenty-year endowment funded by real estate investments and included the Tunnel To Towers Foundation in my living trust. This Matching Gift Program will continue long after I move my office to heaven.
This is not just charity. It is transforming grief into purpose and honoring Michael’s service by supporting those who serve today and the families left behind.
The Impending Movement
At the time of this article, four central stations have already committed: National Monitoring Center, Rapid Response, Total Monitoring Services, and CMS. Alarm dealers including Hoffman Security, Post Alarm, San Marino Security, and Security Design Systems have pledged support. Industry publications, including The Global Electronic Security Forum, are committing space for coverage. Bolton Insurance, the company that acquired my business, is notifying its entire client base.
The program invites donations starting at just $11 per month through GombarGift.com. Every dollar is matched. Central stations inform dealers, dealers inform subscribers, and people participate because they want to give back to heroes who risk their lives every day.
Tunnel To Towers provides monthly reports detailing program progress and success stories, which are transformed into articles and shared with subscribers. These stories build dealer brands while reminding donors of the real impact they are making. If a community member or veteran faces hardship, their story can be submitted directly to me for consideration through the Foundation’s programs.
For our industry, this is not about selling. It is about giving. When employees and customers are invited into something with no hidden agenda, generosity is received on a deeper level. It builds goodwill, strengthens differentiation, and aligns businesses with human values.
The campaign’s message is simple: “Make An Impression For Life.”
Rick Gombar spent more than 40 years in the security industry providing insurance and risk management services, earning a gold-standard reputation among alarm companies nationwide. He was instrumental in the early development of LABFAA (now GLASAA), pioneering General Liability and E&O programs that became industry benchmarks. A 2022 inductee into the Security Sales & Integration Hall of Fame, Rick Gombar now dedicates his work to charitable causes benefiting first responders, veterans, and their families.
Internal Links URLs
https://www.security.world/industry-leadership
External Links URLs
https://t2t.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What inspired The Force Of Two initiative?
The movement was inspired by Rick Gombar’s lifelong bond with his brother Michael, a Green Beret and Vietnam veteran whose service and compassion motivated a mission to support veterans and first responders.
What is the Matching Gift Program?
It is a charitable initiative in which every dollar donated to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation through GombarGift.com is matched dollar-for-dollar, amplifying the impact of individual contributions.
Who can participate in the program?
Security manufacturers, distributors, alarm dealers, central stations, industry associations, employees, and subscribers can all participate. Even small monthly contributions help fund meaningful assistance.
How does this benefit the security industry?
The program builds goodwill, strengthens customer relationships, differentiates companies through genuine community service, and aligns businesses with core values of service and compassion.
How are donations tracked and shared?
Tunnel To Towers provides monthly reports detailing matched donations and success stories, which are shared with dealers, employees, and subscribers to highlight the real-world impact.