Author: Jasmine

Neal Communities Again Supports the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace to Assist Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County

Last Saturday more than 30,000 rubber ducks floated down the Manatee River in the 14^th Annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace. The event benefited Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County, a year-round school that provides girls and young women with an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. And for the eighth consecutive year, Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, partnered with Pace Center for Girls as a Diamond Duck sponsor.

In addition to a $7,500 donation from Neal Communities, employees of the homebuilder also support the cause by adopting rubber ducks and raising even more funds to help the Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County. Employee-raised funds added an additional $1,700.

Jennifer Villarreal, accounting supervisor for Neal Communities, coordinates Neal Communities’ involvement with the event. “As a Manatee County native, I’ve been familiar with the positive impact of Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County and their mission for a long time. I am beyond proud to work for a company that supports the success of these local young women,” said Villarreal. “This organization is passionate and effective at making a positive change in the lives of young women and in our community – and this is the cutest event in Manatee County!”

During the race on Saturday, the adopted rubber ducks raced down the Manatee River, with the luckiest ducks winning prizes for their owners. The race started at Caddy’s at the Pointe in Bradenton at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Ducks were available for purchase up until race time with all proceeds benefiting Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County. Prizes included a two-year lease on a Jeep from Firkins Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (or $5,000 cash), weekly dinner for two at Anna Maria Oyster Bar for a full year, an outfit a month for a full year from the Teal Turtle Boutique, and more.

Some participants, including Neal Communities, decorated their ducks for the chance at additional recognition. In fact, Neal Communities took home a Best Dressed Duck trophy for their “Ducky Parton” entry.

“Neal Communities is pleased to continue to support the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County is a wonderful organization making a difference in the lives of girls within our region, and this is something we enjoy being part of each year.”

Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County integrates social services and education in an individualized manner, and it is recognized nationally as one of the most effective programs in the country for keeping adolescent girls out of the juvenile justice system. The organization uses a strengths-based approach that harnesses the unique potential of each girl with a focus on future outcomes. Pace Manatee has worked with more than 1,500 girls over the years and is one of Pace Center’s almost two dozen Florida locations.

As a Diamond level sponsor, Neal Communities’ donation assists Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County with its program and necessities, including uniforms, transportation, supplies and more.

“Partners like Neal Communities, who invest their resources as well as their time, show our Pace girls how dedicated our community is to their success,” said Amy Wick Mavis, Med, executive Director of Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County. “We are so thankful for Neal Communities and their continued support and passion for our cause. We are also incredibly grateful for the support of Manatee County as we are in the final stages of our Capital Campaign and are looking to break ground on our new 19,000 sq ft facility in the near future.”

Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 20,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

For more information about Pace Center for Girls Manatee, visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/manatee. For more information about the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace, visit www.DuckRace.com/Manatee.

May 19, 2023
Neal Communities Supports Take Stock in Children with Over $10,000 in Donations

Neal Communities Finance Director Pamela Curran started volunteering as a mentor with Take Stock in Children of Manatee County two years ago and had no idea how powerful the experience would be for her.

Curran’s friend, who works at Take Stock in Children, first convinced Curran to volunteer. She was introduced to a student that was in her junior year at Southeast High School. With a child the same age, Curran easily developed a bond with the girl. It wasn’t long after that her friend asked Curran if she was able to mentee a second student, another junior at Southeast High School. Both girls are now seniors graduating this month.

“They both have become an extension of my family,” Curran said. And while she didn’t mean for it to happen, both mentees also have become friends with each other and with Curran’s 17-year-old daughter.

Neal Communities is an avid supporter of the Take Stock in Children program in both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. As the largest privately owned home builder in Southwest Florida, Neal Communities has eight employees who, like Curran, volunteer as mentors through the program.

“The Take Stock in Children program offers our employees a way to directly enrich in a child’s life and prepare children for the future,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “We are happy to support a program that focuses on helping our youth succeed.”

The home builder recently was a $2,500 sponsor of the Take Stock in Children Sarasota County’s annual Celebration of Hope event, which is the program’s graduation ceremony for students completing the program and receiving the college scholarship with their college plans announced.

Neal Communities also donated $10,600 to Take Stock in Children of Manatee County to provide a single tuition-based college/technical college scholarship to a student in the Manatee County program.

“Companies like Neal Communities that encourage employees to mentor lead by example. They value the investment of time to change a child’s life and the community. Their employees share their professional work experience with students and broaden the possibilities available to young people,” said Diana Dill, development director and community partnership portfolio manager for Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County.

The Take Stock in Children’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students by providing opportunities for a postsecondary education. The students, from middle to high school age, are matched with a volunteer mentor, provided college readiness services and a dedicated college success coach. Each student is awarded a college scholarship and provided with postsecondary support through degree or certification attainment.

While the program requires Curran to spend a minimum of 30 minutes a week with her students, Curran said she often spends much more time. She said they talk about more than just school and future education plans. “It’s just really to help them follow their path,” she said, using expressions like “a cheerleader”, “a motivator”, and “a shoulder to lean on” when describing the role that she plays as a mentor. “They teach me new things on a daily basis,” she said. “They motivate me to be the best mentor that I can be.”

Curran’s volunteer efforts were recognized. She was named Take Stock Manatee Mentor of the Year this past January.

Curran said the other employees at Neal Communities who mentor support each other’s efforts. She told a story about how a co-worker was planning to share a book about business leadership with his mentee. Curran said she ended up sharing the same book with her students. “We support each other in this role and give each other guidance,” she said. “It’s great camaraderie among those of us at Neal Communities who mentor.”

Neal Communities has been a community partner and supporter of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County since 2017. In total, Neal Communities has donated $29,200 to the organization. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

“Take Stock in Children is incredibly grateful for community leaders like Neal Communities for dedicating resources to ensure local students reach their greatest potential,” Dill said.

For more information about Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County, visit TakeStockSarasota.org. For more information about Take Stock in Children in Manatee County, visit TakeStockManatee.org. For more information about Neal Communities visit staging.nealcommunities.com/.

May 17, 2023
Neal Communities Donates $10,000 to Youth Sports Leagues to Help with Hurricane Ian Recovery

Neal Communities, the area’s largest private home developer, has donated a total of $10,000 to two local sports leagues to help them recover from Hurricane Ian.

Neal Communities donated $5,000 to North Port Junior Bobcats Pop Warner football league to assist them with equipment purchases, including replacement of football equipment lost or damaged by the hurricane last fall. The private home developer also donated $5,000 to Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball to assist them with repairing a storm-damaged dugout roof and the main building’s roof at the organization’s fields off Fruitville Road.

“It is nice that Neal Communities cares about the area and our local youth,” said Junior Bobcats President Harry Russom, who also is the land development manager for Neal Communities. Russom requested the funds through an internal process that Neal Communities has in place to support employees and their community service.

The North Port community was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian in September. After the harsh winds subsided, rising floodwaters further damaged homes and property. The North Port Junior Bobcats league’s football players and their families were negatively impacted and some even lost their homes, Russom said. In the aftermath, the league’s football equipment, including padding and helmets, were destroyed or lost.

“It was hard on people, especially those who had lost so much,” Russom said. “The funds are helping us to get the equipment that we need so that we can continue to play.”

The pop warner football league normally has about 125 football players spread throughout five different age groups, including ages six and under, ages seven and eight, ages nine and 10, ages 11 and 12 and ages 13 and 14. The league also has a cheer program with about 85 children. The organization offers both a fall and spring season and plays at North Port High School’s football stadium, called “The Preserve.”

“The area is growing and so are our youth sports teams,” Russom said. “Neal Communities’ tagline is ‘Where You Live Matters,’ which is one of the reasons that I came to work for the company. Their values align with my values and principles.”

Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

“Local youth sports leagues like North Port’s Junior Bobcats and Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball have a positive impact on the children in our local communities,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “We’re proud to support these organization’s efforts – especially to help them recover some of their losses after the storm.”

For Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball, the funds will be used to replace roofs on a dugout and main building at their fields near the corner of Beneva Road and Fruitville Road, said Rob LaGasse, a longtime coach for Babe Ruth Baseball.

“Our regular dues don’t always cover the full operation expenses, so we run fundraisers all year,” LaGasse said. “But nothing covers unexpected needs like the repairs to these buildings.”

LaGasse first started coaching for the little league 13 years ago when his son, Alex, got involved in baseball. Alex outgrew the program, but LaGasse stayed on as a coach. He said he enjoys working with the kids and teaching them about teamwork and being a leader.

“People don’t realize that learning to be a team player helps set kids up for success. They become future business owners and learn how to be leaders,” said LaGasse, who also is a pool designer for Waterscapes Pools & Spas, part of the Neal Communities’ family of companies.

Babe Ruth Baseball is for ballplayers ages 13 to 15 who want to continue their baseball playing experience beyond the age of 12. With both a fall and spring season, the players compete on standard 90-foot diamonds under official baseball rules used by Major League Baseball.

LaGasse said he is thankful for Neal Communities’ donation to help the Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball league fix their facilities. “It makes me proud to work here,” he said. “It’s truly a family-owned business and they care about their employees’ interests.”

For more information about Neal Communities, visit staging.nealcommunities.com/. For more information about North Port Junior Bobcats Pop Warner or to donate to the organization to assist with storm recovery, visit www.NPJrBobcats.com. For more information about Sarasota Babe Ruth Baseball, visit www.SarasotaBabeRuth.com, and to send a donation to assist with storm recovery, email caluer@mote.org.

May 15, 2023
For Neal Communities’ Katie Rhyne, It’s All About Career Growth with a Community Focus

Katie Rhyne never knows what the day might bring in her role as community affairs coordinator for Neal Communities. Some days, she’s working with local nonprofits on ways the home builder can help support their efforts. At other times, she might be focusing on a land-use issue or talking with members of local government.

“Every day looks a little different,” she says. “My job is about maintaining Neal’s position and reputation in the community in a professional sense, in a philanthropic sense, and within our own communities.”

A career highlight for Katie in her year and a half at Neal Communities has been her work on a recent land-use entitlement project. “We had a really exciting project approved earlier this year that my efforts were instrumental in,” she says. “It’s cool to see the fruits of my labor in that approval and how it benefits the company overall.”

Katie is no stranger to giving back outside of work. She’s involved with her church in multiple capacities and is currently mentoring a high schooler through Take Stock in Children. Through her job at Neal, she’s able to expand on that personal interest in her professional life.

“A lot of the organizations that we partner with have been suggested by Neal team members who have some sort of history or connection to them,” she says. “So we support them year after year. It’s fulfilling to be able to create relationships and then continue to support those relationships.”

Katie herself is building relationships that will prove beneficial in her career development. Her goal was to work for a large local company, and taking on this role at Neal Communities is helping her develop knowledge about the local region and gain valuable skills she’ll keep using as her career progresses.

“I’m lucky with my current role that I’m being trained in different areas and learning skills that I’ll be able to apply to any job,” she says. “And I appreciate the exposure to different nonprofits, organizations, and positions that do great work in our community.”

She’s also found the kind of workplace culture she was looking for at Neal Communities. “There’s definitely an investment in the employees,” she says. “And we’re all working together very hard for a common goal.”

Katie’s just starting out in her career, and she’s encountered plenty of coworkers at Neal to look to for guidance or inspiration. That includes her supervisor, Ivory Matthews, who serves as the company’s vice president of community and governmental affairs. “She’s very good at explaining things to me and really taking the time and walking me through the steps and the processes,” says Katie. “I’ve been thankful for that.”

“I’ve also enjoyed getting to work under Pat Neal’s leadership,” she says. “There is definitely a lot to learn from him.”

When she’s not working, Katie can often be found outdoors. “I love to go to the beach for sunsets, and spend time walking on the Legacy Trail,” she says. “Our home has so much to offer. I like to try new places and enjoy the amenities of our area.”

May 8, 2023
Neal Communities Achieves Sales Goals in First Quarter with 279 Homes Sold

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s large private homebuilder, has seen strong first quarter sales results for 2023, with a total of 279 homes sold.

Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes, the company’s luxury home division, closed 77 sales in January, 101 sales in February, and another 101 sales in March. This strong start to the year represents a robust market that the company expects to continue through the rest of 2023.

“Relative to our revised expectations for selling season, March turned out very well for us. Many folks who were on the fence late in 2022, due to rates, jumped back in when the rates started to improve in late February and early March,” said Carlos Puente, vice president of sales and marketing for Neal Communities. “Furthermore, lots of people are looking to move to Florida, where prices and taxes are still attractive – in comparison to the Northeast and West Coast – and where the sun continues to shine most of the year. You really can’t beat living in Florida, and more people are coming to that realization.”

Neal Communities’ Grand Park community in Sarasota led in sales for the quarter. The community embraces natural beauty with many old growth trees, lush landscaping and outdoor spaces, and resort style amenities. Located in south Sarasota, Grand Park features award-winning home designs featuring a British West Indies theme and offers homeowners and potential buyers easy access to I-75, shopping and dining on Clark Road and nearby Siesta Key Village, as well as a multi-million dollar amenity that includes two resort-style pools, pickleball, volleyball and tennis courts, a recreation center and clubhouse and parks, playgrounds and trails.

“The year is off to a strong start,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “With the continued migration to Florida from other states, we expect to see steady sales growth continue throughout the year.”

Neal Communities’ sales in fiscal year 2022 were just over $600 milliion, and in 2021 they were right at $603 million. The building industry as a whole experienced challenges last year due to supply chain issues and labor shortages that affected the ability to complete projects.

Headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Neal Communities is actively building and selling properties in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers and Napes. The company recently sold its 20,000th home. The milestone moment took place on March 21st inside a community sales office for a home in the award-winning community of Windward at Lakewood Ranch.

Neal Communities’ latest community is Wildleaf, a new neighborhood of single-family homes and villas within North River Ranch. The community will include an estimated 378 units, consisting of maintenance-assisted paired villas and single-family home options ranging from 1,533 to 3,156 square feet. As with many Neal Communities, residents have access to a variety of amenities including parks and playgrounds, trails systems, clubhouse, multiple swimming pools, fitness centers and more.

April 26, 2023
Neal Communities Donates to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned and operated private home builder, recently donated $3,000 to sponsor two events this month by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. The donation was evidence of the builder’s interest in conservation and environmental stewardship.

Neal Communities donated $2,500 to sponsor the Wild About Nature family festival on Saturday, April 1st and $500 to sponsor of the organization’s fourth annual Nature Lecture on April 19th.

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s mission is to protect land and water resources in Southwest Florida. The organization focuses on four priorities – conserving habitat, protecting shoreline and water access, connecting lands and providing recreational access.

“Neal Communities supports the mission of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast,” said Pat Neal, president and owner of Neal Communities. “We believe in supporting efforts that are focused on protecting our natural resources and providing places, events and activities where people can connect with nature.”

The Wild About Nature festival drew an estimated 550 people to the shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve in Osprey at the beginning of the month. Families enjoyed live music, nature-based educational activities, face painting, crafts, food trucks and more.

Meanwhile, the lecture series drew in an estimated 130 people to hear Jason Vuic discuss his book, “The Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream.” The lecture, which took place at Michael’s on East, focused on how some parts of Florida were first developed in the 1950s and 1960s, including communities like North Port, Cape Coral and Port St. Lucie.

“Sponsors like Neal Communities help us protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature,” said Lee Ann Rodriguez, the director of Philanthropy for the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. “Neal Communities’ support allows us to expand our reach; save more acres; connect more kids, families and adults to nature; ensure habitat for wildlife and protect our water.”

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. The company’s recent support of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is additional evidence of the builder’s interest in being a strong environmental steward.

Efforts are made in all of Neal Communities’ neighborhoods to preserve heritage oaks, provide lush landscaping and offer networks of trails that connect to open spaces for residents to enjoy.

In fact, environmental sustainability is part of the company’s building practices. The company was awarded Builder of the Year by the Florida Green Building Coalition for six consecutive years starting in 2013. The majority of new homes the company started after April 1 of last year are now being built to the more rigorous National Green Building Standard.

Decades before, starting in 1999, Neal Communities employed BuildSmart initiatives for some of its homes, offering an array of green choices and products for home buyers. In fact, long before Florida had stringent environmental protection laws in place for new development, Neal Communities was doing what it could to preserve natural resources.

For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com. For more information about the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, visit ConservationFoundation.com.

April 25, 2023
Neal Communities Recognized by Best of SRQ People’s Choice Awards

This April, SRQ Magazine released its Best of SRQ issue which named Neal Communities in several top honors.

The media company hosts an annual people’s choice awards program in which nominations are collected from the public in a variety of categories. Voting by the public takes place online over the course of about four weeks in January and February.

Best New Home Neighborhood
Neal Communities was named a platinum winner in several categories, including Best New Home Neighborhood for its Windward at Lakewood Ranch community that includes attached villas and single-family homes. Windward residents enjoy a resort-style swimming pool, separate children’s pool, pickleball and tennis courts, a dog park, a clubhouse with gathering spaces, a state-of-the-art fitness center and on-site activities director. Residents of the Windward community can easily access Waterside, a mixed-use community with a vibrant downtown area located just northwest of Windward. (Waterside received the gold in the same category.)

In the same category, North River Ranch received a silver recognition. Neal Communities recently celebrated the grand opening of Wildleaf at North River Ranch, which offers single family homes and villas. Spread over 2,600 acres, North River Ranch is situated at the apex of Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties and offers easy access to Interstate 75. The growing area includes both residential and commercial amenities. Wildleaf residents will have access to a variety of amenities throughout North River Ranch, including parks and playgrounds, a 26-mile greenway trails system and fitness pods, clubhouses, multiple swimming pools, fitness centers and a dog park. Neal Communities also built Riverfield in North River Ranch, which is nearing sellout.

Named Among Best of Venice
Within SRQ Magazine’s Best of Venice categories, Neal Communities received several accolades. Overall, Neal Communities received the platinum level Best Venice New Home Builder. Additionally, one of Neal Communities’ newest neighborhoods in Wellen Park, Avelina, was recognized. The community received platinum status for both Best Venice New Home Community and Best Venice Home Model for the home builder’s Sea Spray model. Avelina is a 96-home community that offers five stunning floorplans ranging from 2,327 square feet to 2,762 square feet. Eight homes were sold in Avelina within the first 30 days of its opening. Avelina is located in the Playmore District of Wellen Park, a growing area of South Sarasota County.

Neal Communities also was recognized at the bronze level in the category of Best Venice Home Model for a model within the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club. Set beneath a canopy of mature oaks and tropical palm trees, Boca Royale Golf and Country Club is situated in the Englewood community. Homes range from villas to estate homes with a variety of amenities, including an 18-hole golf course with new Champion Ultradwarf greens, five tee box locations and scenic views with low home visibility from the fairways.

Best Pool Contractor
In addition, one of Neal Communities’ brands, Waterscapes Pools and Spas, received a platinum recognition for Best Pool Contractor. A custom pool builder, Waterscapes Pools and Spas uses only the finest materials and products and offers pools equipped with a variety of specialty features to ultimately create a personal oasis for homeowners. Much like its parent company, Waterscapes Pools and Spas prides itself on being customer focused, award winning and community serving.

Top 10 Best Local Places to Work
Neal Communities was listed among the Top 10 Best Local Places to Work in the SRQ people’s choice award. Employees nominated the company and provided testimonials. This is not the first time Neal Communities’ workplace culture has been recognized by its employee base. The home builder has received the Best Places to Work award from the Herald-Tribune Media Group each year since 2019. The company attributes this to a united goal of helping people improve their lives throughout Southwest Florida and the communities it builds.

To read more about the Best of SRQ, visit www.SRQMagazine.com/2023/bestof. For more information about Neal Communities, visit staging.nealcommunities.com/.

April 10, 2023
Neal Communities Serves as $10,000-Level Sponsor of the 2023 Parrish Heritage Day Parade & Chili Cook Off Festival

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, was a $10,000 sponsor of this year’s 2023 Parrish Heritage Day Parade & Chili Cook Off Festival.

The 2023 Parrish Heritage Day Parade & Chili Cook Off Festival, hosted annually by the Parrish Civic Association and The Parrish Foundation, took place on Saturday, March 25th on the grounds of the Florida Railroad Museum. Attendees were invited to enjoy delicious food, live music, arts and crafts displays and kid-friendly activities. Attendants were given a card upon entrance, allowing them to cast their vote for the best chili after sampling.

“This is an annual fun, family-friendly event that not only helps the whole community come together, but also provides support for both the Parish Civic Association and The Parrish Foundation,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities.

Funds raised during the event are used to provide community enhancements, including a future Parrish Community Park and grants to local nonprofit organizations that are serving the Parrish community.

Members of the Neal Communities team enjoy participating in the festival each year. Last year, Neal Communities team was first runner-up in the chili cook-off. This year, the team received a Judges First in Show Award for Best Team and Booth and an Overall Grand Champion for People’s Choice Award for chili.

“We were thrilled that we received the People’s Choice Award, which meant that people voted for our chili as being the best,” said Jennifer Joslin, design gallery manager for both Neal Signature Homes and Neal Communities.

This was Joslin’s second year on the team. As a co-captain, she was one of the eight members of the Neal Communities’ team, which included six other company employees and her husband, Karl. Her husband served as the head chef.

Each team member was assigned supplies to bring, including the different chili ingredients. The morning of the festival, everyone gathered at 6 a.m. to prepare pots with ingredients as the chili must be made on-site with meat ready to cook by 7 a.m.

While Joslin’s husband cooked and ensured the chili was ready for judges to pick up by 10 a.m., the team decorated their booth, using a company-branded tablecloth, fun decorations and vibrant colors where attendants could relax and enjoy their food. To offer a fun experience for an entire family, the team also brought in trays of candy for children.

“We always add trays of candy because kids bring their parents, and parents vote on the chili,” Joslin said.

When the gates opened to the public at 11 a.m., the team knew there would be quite the crowd to feed. While teams need to make a minimum of 10 gallons for the event, the Neal Communities team created 15 gallons of chili, wanting to have enough so every guest would have the chance to enjoy the chili. Throughout the day, the team worked together to serve the hundreds of people who attended the festival. Every time a guest cast a vote for Neal as the best chili, the team would ring a bell they brought, drumming up excitement and boosting team morale.

“This was a fun event for us to do. The chili cookoff certainly builds teamwork, camaraderie and friendship,” Joslin said. “But the whole other benefit of this is that we were part of an effort to support the local community.”

Neal Communities has been a longtime supporter of both this event and The Parrish Foundation, with more than $42,000 in past donations.

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. In Parrish, Neal Communities has built the communities of Silverleaf and Canoe Creek and homes within North River Ranch.

April 7, 2023
Build Your New Home in Florida

As you may have found, the housing market is going through an unprecedented time. You want to find a home that’s right for you, but it can be challenging to know how to navigate your search.

What about buying a new construction home? Most people assume it’s the more expensive options, but in fact, The New York Times listed Florida among the 18 states where building a new home is more cost-efficient. The report states that future homeowners save $76,000 when buying a new construction home in Florida. With the amount saved, homebuyers add this into their personal budget, providing an exciting opportunity to add in any preferred customizations that turn their vision of a dream home into reality. .

Another factor is ownership cost. With an existing home, there are often unseen renovation costs. Homes may be dated or require upgrades like new roofs, HVAC systems or appliances to live comfortably. These costs have reached an all-time high with the scarcity of materials, meaning you’ll pay more to equip a home with modern amenities. When you build a new construction home, you won’t fall victim to these unseen costs. New homes have these features built into the floorplan, so you won’t need to pay more and wait to fully enjoy your new space.

As one of Southwest Florida’s premier homebuilders, Neal Communities builds homes matching homeowners’ needs and personal budgets. Our dedicated team is proud to offer a variety of beautiful floorplans in neighborhoods that embody the Florida lifestyle. Contact us if you are ready to build your dream home.

April 3, 2023
Neal Communities Donates $2,000 to Teen Court of Sarasota

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, made a donation in the amount of $2,000 to Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.

The donation includes two components. The first was a $1,000 Outreach level sponsorship of the Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, which was held on March 8 at Michael’s on East. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the past year and honored the valued youth and adult volunteers that participate in Teen Court programs.

The other $1,000 is earmarked to provide a total of 10 mental health counseling sessions for teens who are struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety and emotional trauma. Teen Court of Sarasota offers private counseling sessions with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) free of charge to program participants in both North and South County. For many, these sessions result in improved overall mental and behavioral health as well as improvement in school and home.

“This generous gift will allow us to focus on serving our clients and not working endlessly on how we will pay for it. We are thankful that Neal Communities chose our youth population to support,” said Heather Todd, executive director of Teen Courts of Sarasota.

Since 2018, Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, has personally donated more than $10,000 to Teen Courts of Sarasota. Neal said, “I believe this is a very worthwhile program for the youth in our community, both for the at-risk teens and for the student volunteers who are learning about how the legal and judicial system works. Teen Court is making a difference in the outcome of these teens’ lives.”

Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. provides students ages 8-18 with educational youth development activities that are designed to meet the specific needs of at-risk youth and student volunteers. In an attempt to make the community safer by reducing juvenile delinquency, all youthful participants become engaged in activities tailored to confront the many challenges facing youth in Sarasota County. Teen Court of Sarasota offers educational classes and intervention services that transform the lives of young people and help them become active participants in finding solutions for problems that impact their community.

Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $7.75 million Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.

March 31, 2023