For Immediate Release 

Anonymous Donor Gifts $40,000 to Protect Pensacola Seniors from Florida’s Summer Heat 

Contribution Will Fund New Cooling Systems for All 50 Apartments at AHEPA 296 Senior Apartments Before Peak Heat Season

PENSACOLA, Fla. — June 10, 2026— AHEPA Senior Living announced today that AHEPA 296 Senior Apartments has received an anonymous gift of $40,000 to replace aging Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) units before Florida’s hottest months arrive.

Located in Pensacola, AHEPA 296 is a HUD Section 202-subsidized affordable independent living community that serves very low-income residents over 62 years old. For residents living on fixed incomes, a reliable, energy-efficient cooling system is not a luxury, it is a health and safety necessity. Extreme heat is a leading cause of weather-related illness and death among older adults, and the risk is especially acute in Escambia County, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.

“This gift is a lifeline,” said Joe O’Neil, AHEPA 296, Inc. board president. “Our residents work hard to maintain their independence. Knowing they’ll be cool and safe this summer because someone in this community cared enough to give so generously means everything to us and to them.”

“We are deeply grateful to our anonymous donor for this extraordinary act of generosity,” said Ike Gulas, Chairman of the Board. “At AHEPA Senior Living, we believe that safe, dignified housing means more than four walls and a roof. It means our residents have what they need to stay healthy and thrive in every season. This gift reflects our ‘Culture of Caring’ and exactly the spirit of community partnership that makes our mission possible.”

AHEPA 296 Apartments is part of the national network of AHEPA Senior Living communities — a nonprofit organization that has provided affordable housing and aging services since 1980. Today, AHEPA Senior Living serves nearly 5,000 residents across 89 communities in 19 states, all supported by dedicated on-site service coordinators who connect residents to health, wellness, and community resources.

AHEPA Senior Living welcomes foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors who share its commitment to housing stability, resident health, and dignified aging. Gifts to AHEPA communities support direct resident services from emergency needs like this one to health and wellness programming, service coordination, and quality-of-life enhancements that federal funding does not cover.

To explore partnership opportunities, contact Andrew Kaffes by email akaffes@ahepaseniorliving.org or visit ahepaseniorliving.org.

About AHEPA 296 Apartments

AHEPA 296 Senior Apartments is a 50-unit affordable independent living community located in Pensacola, Florida. Subsidized through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program, the community has served low-income older adults since 2008. It is owned by AHEPA 296, Inc., a nonprofit organization, and is supported by AHEPA Daphne Chapter 296.

About AHEPA Senior Living

AHEPA Senior Living (operating name of AHEPA National Housing Corporation, EIN: 52-1295844) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has provided affordable housing and quality aging services to older adults since 1980. Today, AHEPA Senior Living serves more than 5,000 residents across 89 communities in 19 states through affordable independent living, assisted living under the Hellenic Senior Living brand, and comprehensive service coordination. AHEPA Senior Living welcomes all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or faith, and is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider. Learn more at ahepaseniorliving.org