Category: Giving Back

Neal Communities makes $1,000 donation to North Port Mustangs Pop Warner

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made a $1,000 donation to the North Port Mustangs Pop Warner organization.

The donation supports a fundraising drive to replace youth football equipment for the organization. It was brought to the company’s attention by Harry Russom, a construction manager for Neal Communities at the Kings Gate community in Port Charlotte.

Russom has worked for Neal Communities for five years and also serves as the president of the North Port Mustangs Pop Warner organization. He reached out to his employer to help give the kids and teens who participate in the football program a better experience.

“Our goal is to raise the funds to replace half of our inventory that has become too aged to recertify,” said Russom. “As Neal Communities has increased its presence in the area surrounding North Port, I thought the company might be interested in supporting this cause that is close to my heart.”

“We are always happy to donate to causes that are important to our employees and impact the communities in which we work,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “We hope the North Port Mustangs players are able to get the needed new equipment to make their time on the field safer and more enjoyable.”

To learn more about the North Port Mustangs Pop Warner organization, visit https://www.facebook.com/npmustangs.

To learn more about Neal Communities, visit staging.nealcommunities.com/.

September 27, 2021
Neal Communities makes $5,000 donation to support Pace Center for Girls Manatee

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, recently made a $5,000 donation in support of Pace Center for Girls Manatee and its 12th annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace.

In addition to the donation made by Neal Communities for the 2021 event, many Neal employees also participated on their own by adopting 250 rubber ducks for the race, which offers a variety of prizes for winning ducks. This is Neal Communities’ fifth donation in support of the annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace, with total money donated over the years now totaling $26,100.

More than 27,500 rubber ducks were adopted for the August 28, 2021, event on the Manatee River at Caddy’s in Bradenton, which raised $180,000 to support the vital work done by Pace Center for Girls in Manatee County.

“Neal Communities has been a supporter of the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace for many years,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Organizations like Pace Center for Girls Manatee make our region a stronger place and an area where people want to live. We’re happy to take part in this fun annual event that supports a nonprofit organization doing such important and valuable work.”

Since 1989, Pace Center for Girls Manatee has served at-risk girls in middle and high school in Manatee County, providing an alternative school option to help them achieve their academic goals, develop real world skills and prepare for the future. Pace Manatee has worked with some 1,500 girls over the years and is one of Pace Center’s almost two dozen Florida locations.

For more information about Pace Center for Girls Manatee, visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/manatee.

September 21, 2021
Neal Communities Sponsors the 22nd Annual Big Backpack Event for the Sixth Straight Year

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sponsored the 22^nd Annual Big Backpack Event in Fort Myers for the sixth year in a row and exceeded its donation goal for a fifth consecutive year. This year’s event was held on Sunday, July 25 from 11 am – 2 pm at the Fort Myers Skatium Rink.

The Big Backpack Event is an annual back-to-school event and school supply giveaway hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida. The giveaway benefited children in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, helping them start school with confidence and pride.

The first 2,000 children at the event received a free backpack and school supplies. Local vendors also participated in the event by offering free eye exams, books, fingerprinting, free haircuts and face painting.

The company raised nearly $22,310 in donations from Neal employees, trade partners, homeowners, real estate agents, family and friends. This support helped to once again surpass the intended goal of $15,000.

In addition to financial support, Neal Communities employees volunteered at the event. To date, Neal has contributed over $109,000 for the Big Backpack Event.

“This is an event that we hold very close to our hearts and is extremely important to us,” said Tim Oak, Southwest Florida Regional President of Neal Communities. “The community really comes together, employees, realtors and trade partners, and they each donate to give kids a fresh start for the new school year.”

For more information or to make a donation to the Big Backpack Event, visit the Multicultural Centre website.

August 4, 2021
Neal Communities makes $4,500 in donations to support local students and teachers

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made donations totaling $4,500 in support of local education-related organizations.

“We’re a big believer in supporting the younger members of the communities in which we work,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Education plays an important role in their future success, so we’re always happy to contribute to local schools and organizations working to educate youth and prepare them for their next steps in life.”

Neal Communities made a $2,500 donation in support of Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School. This new Parrish school opened in fall 2019 and is located within walking distance of Neal Communities’ new Riverfield townhome neighborhood in the North River Ranch master-planned community.

Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School operates under a “house system.” Students from various age groups and backgrounds are given spots in one of the school’s four houses, which help students develop skills in leadership, teamwork and service to community. The school is working to construct an ADA-compliant structure that will allow all students to safely make use of donated playground equipment and will serve as a spot where house colors and flags can be displayed.

Neal Communities made a $1,000 donation to support the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. The nonprofit works to enhance the potential of local students, promote excellence in teaching and inspire innovation in education. Each year, the foundation serves almost 44,000 students and 5,000 instructional staff and support personnel in 53 public schools in Sarasota County.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased educational needs, and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is responding to support students and teachers during this challenging time. The foundation expanded its EducateSRQ grant program to provide teachers with more funding for classroom resources and opened the LaunchPad4U community center to offer mentoring and college and career advising for high school students.

Neal Communities also made a $1,000 donation to support Take Stock in Children Manatee, the Manatee County chapter of the Florida nonprofit. Working to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students, Take Stock in Children offers mentoring and college-readiness programs as well as college scholarships for Florida students it begins working with as early as middle school.

Take Stock in Children Manatee has awarded more than 715 scholarships to date. The program has a 98% high school graduation rate, and 93% of its students go on to post-secondary education or trade school.

“These three entities are doing great work for local children and teens, especially recently in the midst of some challenging circumstances,” said Pat Neal of Neal Communities. “We’re happy to be able to contribute to their efforts.”

For more information about Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School, visit www.manateeschools.net/harvey. For more information about the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, visit https://edfoundationsrq.org. For more information about Take Stock in Children Manatee, visit https://manateetakestock.org.

July 23, 2021
Neal Communities makes $5,000 donation to support scholarship fund at The Out-of-Door Academy

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 29, 2021) – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made a $5,000 donation to support the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic at The Out-of-Door Academy.

The Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund was created in honor of Taylor Emmons ’09 after he tragically passed away. It was established to keep his selfless spirit, concern for others and love for The Out-of-Door Academy alive for years to come.

Each year, the scholarship provides opportunities for socio-economically diverse students to attend The Out-of-Door Academy and experience the many benefits of a college-preparatory education. It is awarded annually to a rising ninth-grade student who demonstrates the highest level of character and commitment to his or her academic, athletic and artistic pursuits and would otherwise not have the means to attend to school. The scholarship covers up to the full cost of tuition for four years.

The Out-of-Door Academy – which has an elementary school campus on Siesta Key in Sarasota and a middle and high school campus in Lakewood Ranch – hosts the annual Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic baseball tournament to help support the scholarship fund. In 2021, The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team faced off against Canterbury High School at the fundraising event.

But that wasn’t the only highlight for The Out-of-Door Academy baseball program in 2021. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Matthews and his coaching staff, the team accomplished the ultimate goal and won the Florida Class 2A State Championship. Led by seniors Tyler Colditz and Nolan Lewellen, the Thunder compiled a record of 24-3 and won their first regional and state championship in program history.

The team graduates only five seniors in 2021, bringing back many contributing players for the 2022 season. Those players include the 2019 Taylor Emmons Scholarship recipient, Nevan Hernandez.

This is the first time that Neal Communities has made a donation to support the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic at The Out-of-Door Academy. The donation was requested by Ivory Matthews, who serves as community and governmental affairs director for Neal Communities and is married to Coach Matthews.

“This donation supports so many things that we care about here at Neal Communities,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “By making this donation, we’re supporting a school in the same community as our headquarters, and we’re helping local students receive a high-quality college-preparatory education. It also helps reinforce that we care about our employees and the causes that are important to them. We’re happy to contribute to the efforts to build the scholarship fund, and we congratulate The Out-of-Door Academy baseball program on its incredible success this year!”

For more information about the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund, visit www.oda.edu/admissions/taylor-emmons-scholarship.

June 29, 2021
Neal Communities makes $5,000 donation to support Sisters Sowing Seeds

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 3, 2021) – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made a $5,000 donation to support Sisters Sowing Seeds, a nonprofit organization that empowers teen girls in the community.

The organization was founded in 2015 by Monica Donley, a senior accountant with Neal Communities. It offers mentoring programs and other services to help teen girls and young women succeed both in school and life and strengthen their self-esteem.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging for the nonprofit, which had to shift from in-person to online meetups. “I missed that personal touch, but we were still able to meet through Zoom,” said Donley.

Those Zoom sessions included events such as trivia games and virtual themed parties to help the girls de-stress from the difficulties of the last year, as well as a group session with a therapist who offered advice and assistance on navigating the pandemic and all the changes it brought. Tutoring sessions were available for students who needed extra help.

Donley also delivered frequent care packages to the 25 middle and high school students working with Sisters Sowing Seeds. They contained everything from personal items to useful supplies like journals to gift cards to help the girls and their families with necessities.

“It was important to keep doing what we do because of the time that I had spent cultivating relationships with these young ladies,” said Donley. “You don’t want to leave them when they’re in a difficult time; you want to make sure you’re able to stand by the words you have given them and the commitment you made to them to be a part of their lives. So of course I wanted to be a part of their lives when times got difficult. I didn’t want them to be out there by themselves.”

Over the past several years, she’s witnessed how the organization affects the girls it serves—and how important it is to be there for them. “These girls are changing and finding out who they’re becoming,” said Donley. “We get an opportunity to have an impact in that early stage of self-exploration. We can be there as a positive influence to let them know they are valuable. We can show them they’re capable of doing things they didn’t think they could.”

The $5,000 donation from Neal Communities will help Donley purchase supplies for upcoming Sisters Sowing Seeds efforts, which include a book club and a return to in-person community events. Neal Communities previously made a $1,000 donation to Sisters Sowing Seeds in 2019 and a $3,000 donation in 2020. Donley is truly grateful for the support she is getting from her employer for a cause so near to her heart.

“I think the community means a lot to my employer, and I think that’s important,” she said. “It feels good to work at a place that cares not only about your working for them and being able to achieve their goals, but that is also looking out for the community. They saw that this meant something to me, and they were willing to invest in it. And that means the world to me.”

“We’re honored to be able to both give back to the community and support one of our valued employees in her efforts to make a difference,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Monica is doing life-changing work through Sisters Sowing Seeds, and we’re happy to help support her efforts to empower the local girls and young women her organization serves.”

For more information about Sisters Sowing Seeds, visit www.sisterssowingseeds.org.

June 24, 2021
Neal Communities Assists with COVID-19 vaccination drive at Kings Gate in Port Charlotte

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, was asked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to assist with a community vaccination event in Charlotte County. Part of statewide efforts to inoculate citizens as protection against COVID-19, the vaccinations took place February 11, 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kings Gate, a Port Charlotte 55+ community where Neal Communities is currently building homes.

“When Governor DeSantis reached out to ask for assistance with this vaccination event, we were happy to support him and the state’s efforts to vaccinate its residents,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “We’re glad to have the opportunity to help protect the health of Southwest Floridians in such an important way.”

The Florida Department of Health oversaw the administration of the Pfizer vaccine at Kings Gate, with 1,000 inoculations taking place each day. Florida residents 65 or older were eligible to receive one of the doses.

The vaccination effort was conducted as a drive-thru event. Attendees received their vaccination under the porte-cochère at the Kings Gate clubhouse and also got scheduled for their second vaccine dose during the event.

The Florida Department of Health also oversaw traffic coordination for the vaccine drive. Ivory Matthews, community and government affairs director for Neal Communities, played a key role in coordinating the event. In addition, many Kings Gate residents under age 65 stepped up to help with the vaccination efforts.

“We were heartened to see how enthusiastic Kings Gate residents were to offer assistance with the event, even if they weren’t yet eligible to get the vaccine themselves,” said Neal. “It’s encouraging to see so many entities working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.”

February 15, 2021
5 Reasons to Choose Neal Communities

There are so many reasons to build with Neal Communities. But here’s just a few that we believe make all the difference in your home buying journey–The Neal Difference.

1. Communities & Connections

At Neal Communities, we know it’s not just about building a tapestry of homes. It’s about how those homes weave together to form a true community that you and your family will love.

2. Before, During and After—We’re With You Every Step of the Way

For 50 years, we’ve been building Neal Communities throughout Southwest Florida. Doing this takes more than tools and blueprints. It takes commitment. And it takes the utmost dedication to our buyers. For us, customer satisfaction is what matters most.

3. Everything You Need in One Place

We offer everything you need within our family of companies, so you are taken care of from start to finish. Neal has you covered, from financing to insurance to interior design to pool creation.

4. Committed to Our Community

A company’s greatest strength lies in its collective ability to make a positive impact in the community. For us, this means giving back time and resources to local causes, programs and organizations that help educate residents, support historic and environmental preservation and more!

5. Giving Back

Over the years, Pat Neal and Neal Communities have championed academic, athletic, cultural, environmental and philanthropic programs that support the arts, community, non-profit and educational organizations. A tradition of giving back to the communities where we live and work benefits us all.

February 28, 2020
Neal Communities Celebrates 20 Years of Holiday Art Competitions with Local Elementary Schools

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, hosted its 20^th annual My Favorite Home art contest on Wednesday, December 4.

Each year, the homebuilder donates $1,500 to a local elementary school and partners with the school’s art department to design the Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes holiday cards. This year, the homebuilder partnered with Venice Elementary School.

Students from kindergarten to fifth grade used a variety of themes to create their own vision of their favorite home. Students created house boats, futuristic homes, their dream home design and more using a variety of art mediums according to their grade level.

“It was amazing to watch the students’ creative processes and listen to the great ideas they came up with, as each grade level took a slightly different take on their idea of a dream home,” said Heather Young, Venice Elementary School’s art teacher. “It was a challenge to choose just ten finalists from each grade level.”

“Each student did a fantastic job of bringing their vision of their favorite home to life in a very unique way,” said Pat Neal, Founder and Chairman of Neal Communities. “We’re happy to support the art curriculum for our local students through this annual contest.”

The Neal Communities $1,500 donation will benefit the school’s art department through supply purchases or curriculum supplements for the school year.

December 10, 2019
Neal Communities Helps with Food Bank of Manatee

Neal Communities Helps Fill Empty Bowls with the Food Bank of Manatee

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has sponsored the 19th annual Empty Bowls Luncheon with the Food Bank of Manatee for the eighth year in a row. The sponsorship included a $2,500 donation to the organization.

The luncheon, held on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street on November 22, was hosted by the Food Bank of Manatee, a program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.

“Neal Communities has been sponsoring Empty Bowls since 2012,” said Judi Bjork, Vice President of Events and Volunteer Engagement with Meals on Wheels PLUS. “We are so grateful for their support and dedication to our largest fundraiser for the Food Bank of Manatee.”

Empty Bowls was created to celebrate gains in hunger relief in Manatee County and serves as the largest fundraiser for the Food Bank of Manatee. At the luncheon, participants enjoyed soups, breads and desserts made by local restaurants and brought home a hand-painted bowl.

“The Food Bank of Manatee provides an incredible service to our community by providing nutritious food to those in need, and we’re grateful to offer our support,” said Mike Storey, President of Neal Communities. “Hunger is a very harsh reality that many families struggle with, and the Empty Bowls luncheon helps fill the need through fundraising and awareness.”

The Food Bank of Manatee provides nutrition and supportive services to the community. As the largest hunger-relief organization based in Manatee County, it has provided over 30 million pounds of food since 1985 for local children, families and seniors.

For more information or to make a donation, visit Food Bank of Manatee.

December 3, 2019