You know the times when everything feels like too much? Like rent keeps going up, and groceries are super expensive? But then someone shows up and reminds us that there’s still hope. That just happened to Miami and its senior citizens!  And yes, there’s a twist you’re going to love. When NBA Legend Alonzo is in town, you know things are going to start looking bright.

Right now more than half of American renters about 57% are having a hard time paying for a place to live. You probably wouldn’t expect a retired basketball star to help fix that. But Alonzo Mourning the famous NBA player and Miami Heat legend, is doing something big. Off the court, he’s making a huge difference for seniors. He just took a big step with a $37.4 million project that’s helping people in Florida.

On May 27, Alonzo Mourning celebrated the opening of Astoria on 9th, a new affordable housing place for seniors in Bradenton. The project was built by Housing Trust Group and Alonzo Mourning’s nonprofit AM Affordable Housing. It has 120 new one and two-bedroom apartments for older people. Rents start as low as $322 a month, and the homes are for seniors making 22%, 30%, or 60% of the area’s average income. After the ribbon-cutting, Alonzo Mourning wrote on Instagram, “Truly thankful for another celebration of progress in our Florida community. The ribbon cutting of the Astoria Senior Affordable Housing Development in Bradenton marked a powerful moment. This new development offers 120 one- and two-bedroom units ranging from $322 to $1316—an incredible blessing for seniors in this community. These aren’t just apartments—they’re homes that foster health dignity and support. 🙏🏾”

Think about that. Almost 60% of renters in the Tampa Bay area spend too much of their income on rent. This project is a safe and affordable place for seniors. Astoria is part of a bigger plan. Bradenton spokeswoman Tiffany Shadik said “The goal with these developments is to support a live work play lifestyle—keeping people living in the city where they also work and spend their time.” Astoria is one of several new housing projects like Riverview 6, The Met, and Nine20 Manatee that are helping to change how affordable living looks in the area.

But Alonzo Mourning isn’t just focused on housing. His kindness keeps going especially during the holidays.

Alonzo’s Holiday Philanthropy

While most people were planning delicious dinners for Thanksgiving last year, Alonzo Mourning and his team were planning to give them away. The Mourning Family Foundation had their 25th annual turkey giveaway last year in Coral Gables, which makes it pretty special. Due to Inflation hit hard, Alonzo Mourning said, ‘‘Been extremely stressful for a lot of people this year as inflation has taken a huge toll … we’re hoping to provide some relief.’’ His team packed up 400 full meals for families who may not have had a holiday otherwise.

With passion and purpose, volunteers loaded trucks thanks to the National Women’s Aid Federation. Families were required to preregister to get food from food banks so that they didn’t have to walk away empty-handed. Every family left with more than just groceries…they left with dignity. One woman, Charlene Jones, stated, “Everything is a blessing,” showcasing how much Mourning cares off-camera and behind the scene.

The kindness didn’t stop in Coral Gables. In Miami, radio hosts and officers gave away turkeys to more than 800 families at Gwen-Cherry Park. “People don’t always give things the meaning that they deserve, said Cassandra Jones from Miami-Dade County Corrections, but our community needs help“. There is no better example of a community lifting each other up when it counts.

Alonzo Mourning’s piece is a reminder of something quite simple: all of us play a part in making life easier for other people. The smallest of gestures, whether that be a roof over your head, a meal, or even just a smile, matter. And for Alonzo Mourning, this is more than charity. It’s a calling that keeps growing stronger every year.