Category: Giving Back

Neal Communities Donates $3,355 to American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – October 22, 2019 – Neal Communities team members have raised $3,355 for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, an initiative of the American Cancer Society.

The Neal Communities team, Building Hope with Pink Pride, raised the funds in support of associates, family and friends who have been affected by cancer. The team was organized by Raylene Gaines, office manager at Charlene Neal PureStyle, a company within the Neal Communities umbrella.

Gaines first started a team when her hairdresser was diagnosed with breast cancer, and continued fundraising when later her mother was diagnosed with the disease.

“Support for the American Cancer Society is very personal to me,” said Gaines. “While my mother is fortunately in remission, others still succumb to the disease. The cancer society’s commitment to research and treatment is so crucial.”

For more information or to make a donation to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, visit the American Cancer Society website.

Neal Communities Donates $2,500 to the Suncoast Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – September 24, 2019 – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has contributed $2,500 to the Suncoast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Jack and Jill of America is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

Neal Communities Area Sales Manager, Elayne McKinney, serves as the current local chapter president.

“I grew up as a member of Jack and Jill of America in New Jersey,” said Elayne McKinney. “When my family moved to Florida, we didn’t have a local chapter, so my mother pioneered the start-up of the Suncoast Chapter almost 30 years ago.”

McKinney’s eight-year-old daughter is now involved in Jack and Jill of America, donating her time to after-school programs that provide weekend snacks for kids in poverty.

“When we look at our charitable giving opportunities, we start by considering the organizations that have had a significant impact on our team members,” said Pat Neal, Founder and Chairman of Neal Communities. “We’re proud to support organizations like Jack and Jill that have provided invaluable leadership and community-minded skills to their participants.”

For more information or to make a donation to Jack and Jill of America, please visit http://jackandjillsuncoast.org/.

Neal Communities Donates Van to Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – August 12, 2019 – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $19,900 for the purchase of a 15-passenger van for Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.

Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church’s Reverend Alfred James accepted the donation on behalf of the church. The van will allow the church to work with youth in the area, providing them with reliable transportation to and from services.

The donation was made in honor of Marilyn Randolph, a former Neal Communities employee and parishioner of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Palmetto.

“The new Mount Carmel Church van is dedicated to Marilyn Randolph, a longtime team member, friend and a devout Christian,” said Pat Neal, Founder and Chairman of the Neal Communities Executive Committee. “Marilyn made a significant impact on the Neal team and the community, so we wanted to honor her passion and extend her legacy in an impactful way.”

The Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church serves Manatee County. The church is located in Palmetto at 1301 2^nd Avenue W.

Neal Communities adopts ducks through $5,000 sponsorship for Lucky Duck Race for Pace

BRADENTON, Fla. — For the fourth consecutive year, Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is partnering with Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County as a Diamond Duck sponsor of the nonprofit’s Lucky Ducky Race for Pace.

Neal Communities did more than just donate $5,000 for the cause. Every year, the builder’s team members also host a team to adopt rubber ducks, raising even more funds to help the Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County change the lives of teenage girls in Manatee County.

On May 11 at Caddy’s at the Pointe in Bradenton, more than 25,000 adopted rubber ducks will float down the Manatee River, winning its owner prizes. The 10^th year running, the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace raised more than $150,000 last year.

“We are grateful that Neal Communities believes in our mission,” said Amy Wick Mavis, executive director of Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County. “They not only support Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County financially but their staff also contributes their time by helping with special events for our girls and their families. As a Diamond sponsor of the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace, their support provides much-needed funds for our program and necessities, such as uniforms and transportation to school. 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.”

Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County is a year-round school that provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The comprehensive program integrates social services and education in an individualized manner, and it is recognized nationally as the most effective program in the country for keeping adolescent girls out of the juvenile justice system. Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County uses a strengths-based approach that harnesses the unique potential of each girl with a focus on future outcomes. Last year, the nonprofit helped more than 2,000 girls in 21 communities in Florida.