LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 19, 2024) – Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $19,000 to support community events this Spring.
A donation of $10,000 to the Venice Symphony supported its Patriotic Pops Concert over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Donations totaling $1,000 were given to two events held by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Neal Communities was a $500 sponsor of the Conservation Community Luncheon held April 9 at Michael’s on East, and a $500 sponsor of the Wild about Nature Festival, held April 6. The event offered a day of outdoor adventure with nature-based education and exploration designed to foster a love of nature in the next generation.
Michael Thomas, purchasing manager for Neal Signature Homes, attended the Wild about Nature Festival with his children, Isaac and Isabella, and their friend Kaleb.
“The Wild about Nature Festival is a remarkable celebration of our natural environment. It’s incredibly important to me that Neal Communities supports events and organizations such as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast,” said Thomas. “These initiatives foster a deeper understanding of nature and promote environmental stewardship. By backing these events, Neal Communities demonstrates their commitment to preserving the beauty and health of our local ecosystems.”
Neal Communities made a $1,000 donation to sponsor the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Construction Hike for Hope, an event designed to engage the construction industry on the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. According to 2016 data from the CDC on suicide risk within occupational groups, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide in the United States. The Hike for Hope was held on April 20, 2024, in six locations across the state, including Tampa Bay’s Rowlett Park and Fort Myers’ Lakes Park. The event raised $205,428 for suicide prevention, surpassing their goal of $180,000.
“We are truly appreciative of the support from sponsors like Neal Communities,” said Tara Sullivan Larsen, executive director, Central and Southern Florida, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Together we will save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”
Big Brother Big Sisters of the Sun Coast received a $5,000 donation to sponsor the Manatee Spring Soiree on April 25. The event was held at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and included dinner, live music and a silent auction to benefit Big Brother Big Sisters of the Sun Coast’s mission to help youth thrive by providing transformational, one-to-one relationships with caring adult mentors.
A sponsorship of $1,000 was donated to the SEAsonal Tasting at Nathan Benderson Park. Held April 17, the event featured a tasting menu by 15 restaurants located at University Town Center to benefit their future neighbor, the new Mote Science and Education Aquarium (Mote SEA). Currently under construction, Mote SEA will serve as a regional hub for expanding marine science and technology education and inspiration to every K-12 student in our community, as well as visitors to the area.
The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Sarasota/Manatee, chapter of Crew Network, received a $1,000 donation from Neal Communities to sponsor a luncheon on May 22. The chapter was recently formed to fill the gap between the two closest chapters in Tampa and Naples and provide opportunities for networking, leadership development, industry research and career outreach to women in the commercial real estate industry.
“It’s so important to us at Neal Communities to contribute to the communities where we live and build homes,” said Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs for Neal Communities, who administers the company’s philanthropic efforts. “It’s our pleasure to support these organizations and events.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Construction Hike for Hope was held on April 20, 2024, in six locations across the state. Hikers could choose beads to represent the reasons they participated in the event.CREW Sarasota/Manatee was initiated by Erin Christy, Ashley McRae, and Katie Gower, all active members of CREW Tampa Bay, who recognized the need for a chapter in the local community.
