Jacksonville, FL resident Lillie Bailey was honored with a 2019 Bryant True Heroes Award on Thursday, August 8 at a special on field presentation before the Jumbo Shrimp baseball game at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, FL. Charlie’s Tropic Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. owner Charlie Marks and general manager Amy O’Grady made the presentation. In partnership with Bryant Heating & Cooling, Bryant distributor CE and Johnstone Supply The Ware Group, Charlie’s Tropic Heating and AC will be installing a brand-new HVAC system for her free of charge.

“As the first Bryant authorized dealer in the Jacksonville Beach area, the team at Charlie’s Tropic Heating and AC is pleased to install a new Bryant product for someone so deserving within the local community,” Charlie stated. “After receiving multiple nominations for Lillie, it’s no surprise that she’s receiving the coveted designation as this year’s True Hero.”

Lillie Bailey is 73 years old, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw all that she does. She is a caregiver and wouldn’t have it any other way. Every day she takes care of a 54-year-old man with Down syndrome and her granddaughter who has cerebral palsy. As many know, caring for someone with any kind of disability can be tough; however, that’s not the case for Lillie. While some days are harder than others, Lillie perseveres knowing that the work she does has a real purpose. She lives her life with a passion for helping others and it seems to come naturally to her. Acting as a caregiver can have its ups and downs, but Lillie sees right through them and powers forward to do as much good as possible.

While Lillie works every day helping others, her heating and air conditioning setup isn’t helping her. Currently, her home is being cooled with a single window AC unit and being warmed with a small space heater. This isn’t an ideal situation for anyone, but especially for someone so deserving of the best. With this in mind, some of those closest to her felt she would make a great nominee for the Bryant True Hero award. They were right.

“We are so thankful our partnership with the Jumbo Shrimp helped us find Lillie,” said General Manager Amy O’Grady. “She is such a great example of a True Hero, putting her own needs second to others. She has never had air conditioning in her home, and we are honored to be the company that gets to change that for her.”

It’s evident that from the stories shared about Lillie that she will continue to live out the rest of her life as a True Hero.

CE and Bryant Heating & Cooling are donating the equipment, Johnstone Supply The Ware Group is providing the duct system and other components, and Charlie’s Tropic Heating and AC is doing the installation, all free of charge. The Jumbo Shrimp, Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, provided promotional support and publicized the search for suitable award candidates.

About the Bryant True Heroes Program

Available only to Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealers, the True Heroes program is an engaging way for dealers to honor those who go above and beyond in the community. The program enables Bryant dealers to have a positive impact in their local communities by honoring real, local heroes with personalized awards, ceremonies and charitable donations. Contact your local CE representative for more information.

About Charlie’s Tropic Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

Charlie Marks started Charlie’s Tropic Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. in 1998, building a reputation for friendly, professional service and expertise while providing area families with comfort solutions that fit not only their lifestyle, but also their pocketbook. As a family-owned and operated company, Charlie’s Tropic Heating and Air Conditioning strives to set their company apart from major corporations. With the headquarters in the heart of Atlantic Beach, they are just minutes away from serving the First Coast community. Visit www.tropicheatandac.com for more information.