First Commerce Credit Union recently joined iHeartMedia in support of a community fan drive benefiting the Bay County Council on Aging, helping provide relief to local seniors during the summer’s hottest months.

Through the campaign, community members donated new box fans at First Commerce’s Panama City financial center. In addition, First Commerce presented a $1,000 donation directly 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 Bay County Council on Aging has been providing services in the area for more than 50 years and helps more than 7,000 seniors every year. The organization distributes donated fans to seniors who may lack adequate cooling in their homes and routinely sees increased demand during the summer months.

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 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 drive demonstrated the power of community collaboration, with every donation helping provide comfort and peace of mind to local seniors when they need it most.

Darrell Johnson, market manager and senior vice president of sales for iHeartMedia, said raising community support for the Bay County Council on Aging was a “natural fit,” as the organization has helped several members of his family.

Johnson also highlighted First Commerce’s work in making the 2026 fan drive a success.

“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.