“First of all, I’ve been here over half my life,” Alonzo Mourning told the Miami Herald when asked why Miami still feels like home. “What has attracted me to this community is understanding that there’s a certain population here that has been neglected… are extremely impoverished, and these are the fans that lifted me up over the years… I feel like I owe this community.” That sense of gratitude isn’t just talk—it’s something Mourning continues to show through his work in the city.
Mourning built that bond during 11 memorable seasons with the Miami Heat, split across two stints. He first arrived in 1995 and played seven seasons before stepping away due to kidney disease. After a brief stop in New Jersey, he came back in 2004 and finished his career in Miami, where he belonged. Across 593 Heat games, he averaged 16 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks—yet those stats only scratch the surface. The real impact? You’ll still find it in the streets of Miami, where Mourning’s heart has clearly never left.
Mourning’s impact just went tangible—bricks, keys, and open doors. His nonprofit, AM Affordable Housing, teamed up with Housing Trust Group (HTG) to complete Astoria on 9th, a $37.4 million affordable housing community for seniors in Bradenton, Florida. It’s the first senior-focused development of its kind in the city. The building offers 120 much-needed affordable homes with rents starting as low as $322 a month, well below the local average of $1,639. “As housing continues to remain a priority for many communities across Florida,” said HTG President and CEO Matthew A. Rieger, “Astoria on 9th will serve as another example of the immediate solutions that can be delivered for seniors in metro areas statewide.”
MIAMI, : Miami Heat Alonzo Mourning reacts to making the tying basket with under 30 seconds left during 4th period action in their game against the Philadelphia 76ers 10 April 2001 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The Heat won 83-81. AFP PHOTO/RHONA WISE (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)
The five-story complex at 2244 9th Street W. offers 120 units. Apartments range from 635 to 907 sq ft. The residents will have access to a clubroom, cyber café with a catering kitchen and bar, fitness center, surface parking, and a dog park. There are also supportive programs like adult literacy classes and help with daily needs like grocery shopping and housekeeping, as reported by HTG.
Just ten minutes from downtown Bradenton and close to markets, restaurants, and churches, the development is anchored in community. The development also secured serious financial backing. It’s financed via a $7.64 million Freddie Mac loan through Capital One, $1.2 million from Manatee County, and a $600,000 loan from the Bradenton CRA, making it not just a housing project, but a deeply invested promise to the people it serves.
Alonzo Mourning isn’t just providing homes. He’s also sharing life-saving health advice. His experience comes from fighting prostate cancer and APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD).
Alonzo Mourning’s message is to get tested and take control
At the peak of his career—Olympic gold on the line, adrenaline high—Alonzo Mourning felt something off. It was 2000, and while representing Team USA in Sydney, he began feeling unusually tired. The baller noticed swelling in his legs and feet. “I just chalked it up to my rigorous training and travel schedule,” Mourning admitted while talking to the American Kidney Fund. But once he got back home and went in for a routine physical, things took a sharp turn. His doctors spotted something abnormal in his kidneys. The final diagnosis? Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a serious condition that turned out to be one form of APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD).
By 2003, Alonzo Mourning needed a transplant. His cousin stepped in to donate a kidney. And after a long road of recovery, Zo made an incredible return to the NBA. The Chesapeake native finished his career with the Miami Heat in 2008. But retirement didn’t slow him down. “Today, I’m proud to be an active kidney health advocate and to contribute my story to raising awareness of AMKD,” he said. That commitment led him to partner with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to launch Power Forward.
Educating people—especially those in underserved communities—is what the initiative is dedicated to. It talks about people’s kidney health, the importance of knowing their family history, and the power of early testing. “Knowledge is power,” Mourning said. “And once I learned more about FSGS, I felt more confident about facing my condition.”
Fast forward to 2025, and not only has Alonzo Mourning’s voice in this space been amplified—it has also been honored. This May, he received the prestigious Booker T. Washington Award at the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. Mourning posted:
“I was honored to receive the Booker T. Washington Award… Sharing my journey with APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) is something I am incredibly passionate about.” With his foundation, Zo’s Fund for Life, and ongoing partnerships with the American Kidney Fund and others, Mourning continues to push for change, especially in communities that have long been left behind. As he puts it, “Genetic kidney disease is a silent epidemic in the Black community, and we need to act urgently.” His story is more than a comeback. It’s a mission.
The post Alonzo Mourning Unveils $37.4 Million Massive Florida Project but Entry Denied for Youth appeared first on EssentiallySports.
