First Commerce Donates $2,000 to Support Seniors in Tallahassee, Bay County
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — First Commerce Credit Union recently joined iHeartMedia in support of community fan drives benefiting seniors in Tallahassee and Bay County, helping provide relief during the summer’s hottest months.
Through the campaign, community members donated new box fans at First Commerce financial centers across Tallahassee and in Panama City. In addition, First Commerce contributed a total of $2,000, with $1,000 donated to Elder Care Services of Tallahassee and $1,000 donated to the Bay County Council on Aging, to help purchase additional fans and extend the program’s reach to more seniors in need.
For many older adults living on fixed incomes, rising temperatures can create difficult financial challenges. Some seniors face the choice between paying utility bills, purchasing groceries or affording medications, making it difficult to keep their homes safely cooled during periods of extreme heat.
“Supporting the well-being of our neighbors across all generations is at the heart of our commitment to community,” said First Commerce Credit Union CEO Cecilia Homison. “We’re grateful to everyone who donated fans and helped make our effort to keep local seniors safe and healthy this summer a success.”
The fan drives benefited two organizations dedicated to serving older adults in their communities. Elder Care Services, the Big Bend region’s leading provider of community-based senior care, has helped seniors maintain their independence and quality of life since 1970. The Bay County Council on Aging has served the Panama City area for more than 50 years and assists more than 7,000 seniors each year. Both organizations distribute donated fans to seniors who may lack adequate cooling in their homes and routinely experience increased demand during the summer months.
“The fan drive is so important to us here at Elder Care. We provide services all throughout the year, but a lot of them are more long-term. The fans are something that anyone in Leon County over the age of 60 can come in and say ‘I’m really hot.’ And we can immediately say, ‘Yes, we can help you,’” said Nicole Ballas, chief operating officer of Elder Care Services.
Joel Booth, CEO of the Bay County Council on Aging, said partnerships like the one with First Commerce and iHeartMedia help his organization meet critical needs.
“We work with seniors who are on a fixed income, and when the temperatures rise, they have to really think about how they’re going to manage their funds. When the energy bill spikes, they have some tough choices. Being able to bless our seniors who are in those situations — and there are many of them who are — they are very grateful. And so are we,” Booth said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults age 65 and older are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, particularly during periods of prolonged high temperatures. Access to cooling resources can play an important role in helping seniors remain safe during Florida’s summer heat.
The fan drives demonstrated the power of community collaboration, with every donation helping provide comfort and peace of mind to local seniors when they need it most.
Preston Scott, who has long promoted the Tallahassee fan drive and encouraged community members to support the initiative through his morning radio show, said the partnership with First Commerce has helped expand its impact.
“When I considered the reality of what a lot of seniors face, fixed incomes and the need to try to keep their energy bill contained, it seemed like a no-brainer. It’s been fun to watch this grow, and to now partner with First Commerce Credit Union has been taking it to the next level,” Scott said.
Darrell Johnson, market manager and senior vice president of sales for iHeartMedia, said the effort reflects a shared commitment to supporting local communities.
“Any time you have a partner like First Commerce that has the same goal in mind of taking care of your community, making sure you’re there for your community and the folks who live there, that’s always a plus. Not every business gets that. And we appreciate that out of First Commerce,” Johnson said.
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First Commerce Credit Union is an award-winning, full-service, #LocalStrong financial institution dedicated to empowering generations and transforming communities for 85 years. First Commerce has been consistently recognized for its community impact, including national awards for its annual #FlamingoChallenge, which the credit union has spearheaded to raise nearly $650,000 since 2020 to benefit breast cancer patients throughout the region. A not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1 billion in assets, the credit union is owned by the more than 75,000 consumer and business members it serves. Anyone who lives or works in 40 counties in the North Florida/South Georgia region or their immediate family members are eligible to join. First Commerce has 14 financial centers, including six in Tallahassee, one in Panama City and Marianna, Florida; along with three in Valdosta, one in Nashville, Adel, and Thomasville, Georgia. First Commerce offers best-in-class consumer and business products and services along with the latest technology, and is the No. 1 auto lender in the region. The credit union also offers free financial literacy resources in person and online through the FCCU Foundation, as well as comprehensive financial planning and investment services through its subsidiary Six Pillars Financial Advisors, and commercial and personal insurance through First Commerce Insurance Agency. For details, visit FirstCommerceCU.org or call 850.488.0035 or 800.533.5772. Insured by NCUA. Equal housing opportunity lender.
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