E&E Gliddon Donates $13,000+ A/C System to EverForward Boys Group Home
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
E&E Gliddon Donates $13,000+ A/C System to EverForward Boys Group Home
Local business & St. Pete Chamber member E & E Gliddon responded within minutes after learning St. Petersburg teens had been sleeping in the summer heat
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — August 20, 2026 — When local business owners Hannah Kendall and her husband, Ergys Hisa, owners of E&E Gliddon, learned that teenage boys at an EverForward group home had been sleeping in the Florida summer heat for nearly a month, they responded within minutes.
Within 24 hours, E&E Gliddon installed temporary cooling units and removed the home's failed A/C system. Within 48 hours, a brand-new system valued at more than $13,000 was installed.
The donation came at a critical time for EverForward. The organization had made several “band-aid” repairs to the aging unit over the past year before it finally became unrepairable. After spending more than $300,000 on repairs across its four buildings during the past year and a half, EverForward did not have additional funds available for the unexpected replacement.
A donation of replacement equipment had been confirmed the previous month, and EverForward was awaiting an installation date. In the meantime, staff provided cooling sheets and room cooling fans in the boys' bedrooms to offer some relief. When the anticipated donation ultimately fell through, the organization urgently began searching for another solution.
The need became especially personal when one of the boys wrote EverForward CEO Tonya Ruble-Richter a letter asking if the air conditioning could be fixed so he and the other boys could sleep without sweating. Ruble-Richter began reaching out to contacts in hopes of finding someone who could expedite the replacement. Tamara Galla, an Ambassador for St. Pete Chamber and also a Board Member of EverForward, reached out to some St. Pete Chamber businesses for help.
When Hannah Kendall learned what the boys were experiencing, she immediately stepped in.
“We had been doing everything we could to keep the boys comfortable while searching for a solution,” said Ruble-Richter. “When Hannah and Ergys heard what was happening, there was no hesitation. Within minutes, they were working to help us. Within 24 hours our boys had temporary cooling, and within 48 hours we had a new system. Their compassion and generosity were overwhelming.”
More Than an A/C Donation
E&E Gliddon's support didn't stop when the new system was installed.
Kendall personally returned to the home with items from the boys' wish list, including art supplies, colognes, cornhole games, snacks, toys and other gifts. She has also reached out to her network, resulting in additional people expressing interest in donating and volunteering to support EverForward's youth.
“What touched us most was that they didn't just see an air conditioner that needed replacing—they saw our kids,” Ruble-Richter said. “Hannah and Ergys didn't know our organization or our boys before this. They simply learned that kids in their community needed help, and they showed up. It was definitely an emotional experience. There were tears on our side and theirs.”
For the boys, the impact is immediate: after weeks of trying to sleep through the heat, they can finally sleep comfortably again.
For EverForward, the experience represents something even bigger—the power of a community willing to rally around young people when they need it most.
Within minutes, E&E Gliddon said yes. Within 24 hours, the boys had relief. Within 48 hours, they had a brand-new A/C system.
45 Years of Serving St. Petersburg's Youth
Although the EverForward name may be new to some residents, the organization's presence in St. Petersburg spans 45 years. Formerly known as Carlton Manor, the organization rebranded as EverForward in 2025, a name intended to reflect its commitment to helping young people move beyond the circumstances that brought them into care and toward stronger futures.
EverForward is now working to increase community awareness of the services it provides and create more opportunities for local businesses, volunteers, and donors to become involved.
“There are people in our community who may have driven past our homes for years without knowing the work happening inside,” Ruble-Richter said. “We want St. Petersburg to know who our kids are and how much community support can mean to them. What Hannah, Ergys, and E&E Gliddon did is a beautiful example of that.”
About EverForward
For 45 years, EverForward, formerly Carlton Manor, has provided group-home services in St. Petersburg, Florida, giving young people who need it most a safe, supportive place to call home. EverForward is working to increase awareness of its services and connect community members with opportunities to donate, volunteer, and support the young people it serves.
About E&E Gliddon
E&E Gliddon, owned by Ergys Hisa and Hannah Kendall, provides heating, air-conditioning, and electrical services in St. Petersburg and surrounding areas. The company donated and installed EverForward's new A/C system, valued at more than $13,000, and provided temporary cooling while the permanent system was installed. Website: www.eegliddon.com Phone: 727-546-4343
Media Contact
EverForward
Tonya Ruble-Richter, CEO
727-343-3662 Ext. 223, 941-773-3106
trublerichter@ever-forward.org
www.ever-forward.org
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