Author: Jasmine

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (May 2, 2024) – The week of April 22 – 26, Neal Communities held its first Volunteer Week, during which 63 employees volunteered time with community organizations in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The company has long supported philanthropy and employee volunteerism through corporate gifts and individual volunteering opportunities. The week-long coordinated event was an evolution of Neal Communities core belief that “Where You Live Matters” and commitment to giving back.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week promotes and shows appreciation for volunteerism and volunteering. Many organizations host special events to celebrate volunteers, engage community members, and spread awareness about volunteer opportunities. A National Volunteer Week proclamation has been issued by the President of the Unites States each year since the holiday’s inception. In the U.S., National Volunteer week is organized by the Points of Light foundation.

Neal Communities’ employees volunteered for a variety of organizations, including The Haven, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, All Star Children’s Foundation, Sarasota County Parks, Satchel’s Last Resort, Meals on Wheels of Manatee County and Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. They received full pay for the day of volunteerism, and many of the organizations also received corporate donations from Neal Communities. The total donations totaled $15,000.

Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs for Neal Communities, administers the company’s philanthropic efforts, called the “Plan for Giving.” She explained how Volunteer Week came about, saying, “Community involvement means a lot to me personally. I volunteer more than 10 hours a month in my personal time. It’s so enriching, and I wanted to bring that to the culture at Neal Communities, but I realized that many of our employees have a heart for volunteerism but struggle to find the time due to time constraints at work, commitments with family and the general busyness of everyday life.”

Volunteer Week gave Neal Communities’ employees the opportunity to volunteer during the workday. “The greatest thing is that people signed up to volunteer before they even realized they would be getting a paid day off to do it. We also had custom shirts and cups made for Volunteer Week to help build excitement,” Matthews said. “As an organization, we understand that it’s really important to give back, and that we bring others up by giving them the same opportunities we have. This is something we hope to do every year going forward.”

Neal Communities’ Human Resources team led the charge on organizing the week-long event. From managing employee sign-ups to ordering the personalized items given to the participants, their flawless execution resulted in a successful event for all.

Even with the up-front effort, the positive effect was evident. Katie Bondurant, payroll and benefits specialist at Neal Communities reflected, “Participating in Neal’s Volunteer week was a great opportunity to not only connect with my coworkers, it also reminded me that even small actions can make a big difference. It means a lot to me that Neal chooses to give back to our community.”

Sarah Downes, recruiting and development specialist also worked on  the event and agreed, “Working alongside our team and participating in Volunteer Week was a fantastic experience. Positively impacting our community fills us with incredible fulfillment and well-being.”

That fulfillment will most certainly be the catalyst for future events, underscored by Bryanna Cote, human resources assistant, “Volunteering was such a rewarding experience. Seeing first-hand the impact on the community as well as the impact right within the organization has made me excited to come back next year.”

Tashara Carmichael, vice president of human resources summed up the experience, “I’m so proud of my team’s efforts. The initiative was so well-received and it sparked such inspiration for giving back to our community.”

Katie Alderman, Neal Communities’ community affairs coordinator, helped choose the organizations and set schedules with them for the volunteers. “We chose organizations that have a high need for volunteers and that covered a variety of interests in the community. The response and excitement from employees was so fun to see,” she said.

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. (April 25, 2024) – Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is in the process of fully renovating the semi-private Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. Improvements are also underway on the golf course itself. Neal Communities acquired the gated, 1,000-acre community in 2012 and is building new homes on the undeveloped lots in the community in addition to renovating and improving the amenities.

Much of the work is completed on the clubhouse update, including the front lobby, restrooms and Palm Court, a vaulted-ceiling reception room suitable for weddings, brunches and cocktail events. The 19th Hole has been expanded from a small corner bar that seated seven to a larger rectangular bar that now seats 26 and features televisions and a view of the golf course. The member’s room has been updated to a library-themed lounge, and the outdoor covered dining area has been enlarged to now accommodate 102.

Refreshments were served in the Palm Court reception hall at the grand reopening celebration at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club on March 12.

A grand reopening party was held in March to celebrate the completion of the renovations on the clubhouse. Several hundred members, residents and guests attended over the course of the evening and enjoyed refreshments and music played by a DJ in the outside dining area.

“The number of improvements being made here are impressive,” said Doug Foote, general manager of Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. “Mr. Neal is making an investment in the facility for the existing and new members, and we are very excited about it. Feedback so far has been very positive.”

Left to right: Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities; Dawn Galvin, senior designer/director of product development; and Thom Boyer, construction manager/community design.

Work is also underway on the golf course. Changes will be made to a few of the holes to improve the flow of the course. Those changes will be designed by architect Gordon G. Lewis, a master golf course architect who has designed more than 80 courses in Florida. The greens, irrigation system, tee boxes and fairways will all be replaced. The new grass will be Seashore paspalum, which is popular for use as a fine turf on golf courses and is well suited for salty conditions.

The 19th Hole is the renovated and expanded bar area at the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club.

In addition, a new practice facility including a driving range and putting green is being added, and the golf and tennis Pro Shops and the cart barn are being rebuilt. A yoga studio and fitness class area is also being added. The golf course and other improvements are expected to reopen in November of this year.

“Many of our members are golfers and are looking forward to that,” said Foote. “And even those that don’t golf are really appreciating the improvements to the clubhouse and other facilities.”
For more information about Boca Royale, visit NealCommunities.com/new-homes/boca-royale-golf-country-club/. For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com.

Members and guests enjoyed music played by a DJ at the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club’ s grand reopening celebration on March 12. The new outdoor covered dining area is part of full renovations being completed by Neal Communities.

An international sand sculpting festival and local favorite event, the Siesta Key Crystal Classic, took place November 10-13, 2023. The 13th annual event was presented by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. Neal Communities, the area’s largest private homebuilder, contributed a sponsorship in the amount of $2,500.

The Siesta Key Crystal Classic is a visual and cultural arts festival held on the white sand beaches of Siesta Kay every November. During the first three days of the festival, 24 master sculptors created sand masterpieces, competing for recognition and prizes. On Saturday evening, the sculptures were illuminated with colored lights after sunset. With some sculptures towering more than 10 feet tall, Siesta Key was transformed into an outdoor art gallery.

Max Good, a staff accountant with Neal Communities, attended the Siesta Key Crystal Classic with his wife, Maddie. “Like so many others, Maddie and I were excited to see Siesta Key beach transformed by these impressive sculptures,” said Max. “It became even more awesome for me when two different couples saw me taking photos by the Neal Communities logo and told me how much they love their Neal Communities home! It was a surreal moment that definitely put in perspective for me what we do at Neal.”

In addition to the sand sculpture contest, the festival included live music, shopping, food and drink vendors, sand sculpting lessons, an amateur competition and “quick sand,” a contest of speed and skill. The centerpiece of the festival was a large community sculpture completed by all of the artists and featuring the sponsors’ logos.

“This event is so unique and special for Siesta Key and the surrounding community,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “We’re proud to support the Siesta Key Crystal Classic and showcase the beautiful beach that draws so many to this area.”

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.

To see more photos of the event visit www.siestakeycrystalclassic.com/photos. For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com.

Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities, recently donated $7,500 as a presenting sponsor of the 23rd annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser in support of Meals on Wheels PLUS through The Food Bank of Manatee.

The event was held Friday, November 3, on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. Guests who attended were able to select a handcrafted bowl to keep and enjoy soup, bread and desserts donated by local restaurants. The bowls were hand-painted, and in some cases handmade, by local artists and volunteers. The soup, bread and desserts were provided by local restaurants, with many chefs and staff volunteering as servers.

Christine McKelvey, Neal Communities Marketing Manager, looks forward to this event each year. “It’s heartwarming to see all the love and support that goes into putting this day together,” said McKelvey. “We can’t wait to come and pick out a bowl each year and choose which soup to enjoy, knowing that the proceeds will go to help reduce hunger and food insecurity in Manatee County.”

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. Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, encourages employees to get involved in organizations and community events that matter to them, and he supports that involvement through charitable giving.

“It’s easy to overlook the fact that there are individuals and families in need of food right here in our area,” said Neal. “We are pleased to support this wonderful organization that is helping our friends and neighbors in need.”

For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com.

Neal Communities, the area’s largest private homebuilder, recently sponsored the Barks and Boo’s Bash benefitting Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The event, held on October 18, 2023 at Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar in Sarasota, included dog-friendly entertainment, a silent auction and more. The funds raised, which totaled around $26,000, will be used to provide shelter, medical assistance, balanced meals and more for the animals in the rescue’s care.

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue is a nonprofit animal rescue that provides dogs and cats with a safe, caring, no-kill environment while they wait to be adopted. Started in 2008 and named after local developer Nathan “Nate” Benderson who provided vision and leadership, the rescue has grown from a small group of animal lovers operating in a garage to a robust staff of volunteers running an eight-acre shelter and adoption facility on Lorraine Road.

The rescue has plans to build a new and enhanced campus in east Manatee County. The designs include a 23,000-sqaure-foot welcome and adoption center, a 4,300-square-foot behavior and training center that serve as a resource for current pet owners in the community, a 5,000-square-foot intake building for the housing and treatment of sick and special needs animals, and additional dog and cat habitats.

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. As a Tailwagger Sponsor, Neal Communities donated $1,000 to the Barks and Boo’s Bash.

Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, said, “We try to support local organizations that benefit the communities where we build. We are pleased to assist Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue in their efforts.”

For more information or to donate to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, visit https://nateshonoranimalrescue.org/give/. For more information about Neal Communities, visit staging.nealcommunities.com/.