Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) are partnering to transform the café at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola into a welcoming space designed to support patients, families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. In recognition of this shared commitment to Northwest Florida families and the dedicated caregivers who serve them, the café will be renamed the FPL Recharge Café.
Made possible through a $500,000 donation from the NextEra Energy Foundation, a corporate foundation of NextEra Energy, Inc. and FPL, the redesigned café will provide an updated gathering place for patients, visitors, caregivers and hospital associates. More than 440,000 meals are served annually at Ascension Sacred Heart, making the café an important resource for those spending time on campus during medical appointments, hospital stays and visits with loved ones. It also serves as a daily respite for the physicians, nurses and associates whose compassion and expertise support the hospital's mission of care.
A press conference to announce the project and share stories about its significance was held on Thursday, July 16 in the café at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola.
“The FPL Recharge Café will be a place where people can find comfort and connection during some of life’s most challenging moments,” said Adrienne Maygarden, president of Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. “We are grateful to FPL and NextEra Energy for investing in a space that supports the experience of every person who comes through our doors.”
“At FPL, we believe strong communities are built through meaningful partnerships,” said Scott Bores, president and chief executive officer of FPL. “Our organizations serve communities in different ways but all centered around people. We are honored to celebrate the commitment of healthcare professionals while supporting a space that serves the thousands of patients, families and caregivers who rely on Ascension Sacred Heart each year.”
For Elisabeth Farris, whose family spent months at Ascension Sacred Heart during a high-risk pregnancy and her son's NICU stay, the café became much more than a place to eat.
“During the 120 days I spent at Sacred Heart with my high-risk pregnancy, and later during our son's NICU stay, the café became part of our family's routine,” Farris said. “It was a place where we could take a breath, sit together and feel a little bit normal during a stressful time. My two young children loved going there so much that even now they still ask if we can go back for ice cream. What started as a place to grab a meal became a sacred space for our family, filled with memories from a time when every moment mattered.”
J.T. Young, vice president and general manager of the Northwest region for FPL, said the project reflects FPL's ongoing commitment to the communities it serves.
“Northwest Florida is home,” Young said. “It is a privilege to represent the dedicated employees of FPL who are committed to serving our customers and strengthening the places where we live and work. We are grateful to be able to partner with Ascension Sacred Heart on a project that will enhance the experience of patients, families, caregivers and healthcare professionals throughout our region.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year. Once completed, the FPL Recharge Café will offer an updated space for patients, families, visitors, physicians, nurses and hospital associates to gather, dine and recharge while on campus.
