The region’s largest private homebuilder, Neal Communities, and its trade partners raised a record $30,975 as the presenting sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Annual BIG Backpack Event on July 28, 2024.
Hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, the annual BIG Backpack Event provided 2,500 backpacks filled with school supplies and groceries to area families with children ages 5 to 12. More than 200 volunteers, including Neal Communities’ employees and trade partners, assisted with packing supplies and distribution at the event, which took place in a drive-thru at the Fort Myers Skatium. In its 25 years, the event has donated nearly 50,000 backpacks.
“This is a great event for our employees, our trade partners and the community,” says Tim Oak, south region president of Neal Communities. “Knowing that we are helping local families with important school supplies is a great way to kick off the school year.”
This was the ninth consecutive year that Neal Communities was the presenting sponsor of the BIG Backpack Event, and this year’s donation was the largest to date collected by the homebuilder. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.
The BIG Backpack Event provides children with new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, paper, crayons, folders and other essential back-to-school items as well as coupons and other giveaways.
Neal Communities employees present a record $30,975 to Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida for BIG Backpack Event.Neal Communities and its trade partners raised more than $30,000 for the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida for BIG Backpack Event.
Julieanna Etter, a recent high school graduate, is an intern in project management and warranty service here at Neal Communities. Julieanna penned the article featured in Fortune Magazine.
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LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 26, 2024) – Thanks in part to a Neal Communities donation to Take Stock in Children, of Manatee County, Owen Ferreto will pursue a degree in environmental studies at the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg this fall. Ferreto is the recipient of a $10,800 award, donated by Neal Communities, a longtime supporter of the Take Stock in Children program in Manatee County.
The mission of Take Stock in Children 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.
“Your investment in my education means a lot to me and my family,” says Ferreto. “Inspired by Neal Communities’ values, I am committed to working hard and giving back to the community. This generous support will greatly assist me in pursuing my studies in Environmental Science.”
Neal Communities is an avid supporter of the Take Stock in Children program in Manatee County. As the largest privately owned home builder in Southwest Florida. In total, Neal Communities has donated $40,000 to the organization and has nine employees who volunteer as mentors through the program.
“Being part of shaping a student’s life decision is one of the most impactful ways we can participate in our community,” says Katie Alderman, community affairs coordinator for Neal Communities and a mentor in the Take Stock in Children program. “I am consistently proud and impressed of the students that I mentor and can’t wait to see all they accomplish and give back to their communities.”
For more information about Take Stock in Children in Manatee County, visit TakeStockManatee.org. For more information about Neal Communities visit nealcommunities.com/.
PALMETTO, Fla (January 27, 2025). Neal Communities continues their support of Defibrillate Manatee Foundation. Check out this article and video from WWSB ABC 7.
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla (June 24, 2024) – Neal Communities recently announced a $10,000 donation to the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation. This donation will help to supply the Manatee County School District with 21 AEDs and the Bradenton Police Department with an additional 10 AEDs. Each defibrillator costs $1,699.
Neal Communities was inspired to become involved by the story of Ernie Withers who went into cardiac arrest at the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training complex in Bradenton and was saved by a Pirates doctor, who performed CPR and a trainer, who used an automated external defibrillator to resuscitate him. This experience moved Withers to create a nonprofit foundation, Defibrillate Manatee Foundation, that has donated AEDs to local businesses, schools and police.
The Neal Communities donation will account for approximately one third of the current campaign being conducted by Defibrillate Manatee for Manatee County School District, which also includes 20 AED simulators, 20 CPR mannequins and 20 first aid kits.
In addition to the donation, Neal employees are taking action, with a recent Neal Communities-sponsored training program, certifying 76 employees through the American Heart Association in Heartsaver CPR/AED.
“Not only did Neal Communities make a donation to this charity in helping save lives, but they also took it a step further in bringing awareness to their employees,” says Withers. “The employees were engaging and very enthusiastic in learning how to perform CPR and learn how to operate an AED.”
Since the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation was established last year, it has provided 60 AED’s, 30 AED training simulators, 30 CPR training mannequins, 20 first aid kits and provided CPR certification to more than 100 individuals.
Neal Communities has signed on as sponsor for the Venice MainStreet Friday Night Concert Series.
The series, hosted by Venice MainStreet, takes place from 7 – 9 p.m. every second and fourth Friday of the month year-round at the Centennial Park Gazebo, located at 200 W. Venice Avenue. The event is free and open to the public with upcoming acts including:
Nick Fiasco, presenting “The Sounds of Sinatra and Friends” will perform on June 28, the Dance Raid, high energy musicians playing dance music, on July 12, with the Jane Bond Band scheduled on July 26, describing themselves as “five secret agents on a mission to defy boredom with a positively shocking set of fun, diverse, danceable music that will leave you shakin’ not stirred.”
Steve Haines will perform on August 9, who describes himself as “playing and singing genre hopping acoustic covers with heart and soul with an original here and there.” Zach Regan and the 776 will headline the August 23 concert. A high-energy band from Southwest Florida raised on southern rock and country roots, Zach Regan and the 776 has a debut album “Wolves” written to “put cracks in the mold of the Alt-Country scene.”
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.
PARRISH, FLA. (June 14, 2024) – The region’s largest private homebuilder, Neal Communities, has announced that Silverleaf in Parrish, FL, has closed out, meaning the last home in the community has been completed, sold and turned over to the new owners. Begin in 2014, Silverleaf is an expansive community of 732 homes and was Neal Communities’ first development in Parrish.
“This project is a true embodiment of what Neal has offered the area. Silverleaf retains much of the natural beauty of the original property, with a beautiful land plan, landscaping and entry monuments,” said Carlos Puente, vice president of sales and marketing for Neal Communities. “And the homeowners aren’t the only ones enjoying the neighborhood. This is where the White American Pelican chooses to stop by on their long yearly migration, which is pretty amazing.”
Silverleaf features a spacious clubhouse with fitness room, poolside kitchen and resort-style pool and spa. The community also includes basketball courts, two dog parks, a children’s playground and a picnic shelter with a grill.
Wildleaf embodies the active lifestyle and sense of adventure North River Ranch offers. Homes begin in the mid-$300s and range from 1,433-2,428 square feet with 2-4 bedrooms, 2-3 baths and 2-3 garages.
Canoe Creek offers an inviting, all-American, urban farmhouse feel. Homes also begin in the mid-$300s and range from 1,407-2,908 square feet with 2-4 bedrooms, 2-3 baths and 2-3 garages.
Both communities offer an assortment of amenities and easy access to the Ellenton Outlets, Fort Hamer Park and the Manatee River.
Neal Communities Announces the Close-Out of Silverleaf in ParrishThe Neal Communities team celebrates the close-out of Silverleaf in Lakewood Ranch, meaning the last home has been completed, sold and turned over to the new owners.
When Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, was presented with the 2024 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award, he knew that he wanted the honorarium that came with it to go to an important partner in land preservation in the state of Florida. Mr. Neal and Neal Communities raised an additional $200,000 to add to the $150,000 honorarium to donate a total of $350,000.
Those funds went directly to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, which focuses its efforts on the purchase of fresh and saltwater wetlands, imperiled habitats for wildlife, scrub habitats, connectivity for wildlife corridors, and for the purchase of properties for public access.
“The work being done by organizations like Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast related to land preservation is vital for our future generations to ensure that the public can enjoy everything that this beautiful state has to offer for years to come,” says Mr. Neal.
The Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award was presented to Mr. Neal earlier this month as a result of his efforts for conservation in Sarasota and Manatee Counties over the 54 years that Neal Communities has operated.
The funds will be used by Conservation Foundation for land acquisition in Sarasota and Manatee counties and to fund the Strategic Conservation Plan being created for the first time for Conservation Foundation. The Foundation is celebrating its 20th year, having sponsored or managed the acquisition of nearly 20,000 acres of land in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties across 58 properties.
“Land conservation is urgent work and requires the support of our entire community,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Pat Neal for choosing to protect the land and water here in Southwest Florida by selecting Conservation Foundation to receive these funds. This generous gift will quicken the pace of conservation and help further our work to connect protected lands and create a Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor for the benefit of people and nature.”
The Hearthstone award also recognized the Keystone contribution to the Big Pine Key National Wildlife Refuge in Big Pine Key, Florida near Key West. This is the home of the remaining 700-800 Key Deer surviving on the planet – an increase from the approximately 50 key deer when the contribution was made – which itself is a result of Mr. Neal’s gift to the Trust for Public Lands and the sale to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1986.
“There is a lot of support for land conservation in our state from the public and environmental agencies,” Mr. Neal adds. “But the process of acquiring and preserving land for the future is not an easy one because of the competing and legitimate goals of private property owners. Of course, public concern, environmental consciousness, and feeling good about what we do as humans on this delicate planet are considerations as well and the work being done by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast will help maintain this balance.”
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (May 31, 2024) – Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $14,550 to support youth sports and programs in Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties. Many of the donations resulted from requests by staff members to support organizations their children or other family members are involved with.
“We encourage employees to volunteer their time and give back to the organizations that are important to them,” said Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs for Neal Communities, who administers the company’s philanthropic efforts. “Many times, those are the organizations and programs that their kids participate in, such as youth sports and activities. We know how important these programs are in the community, and we are pleased to lend financial assistance where we can to help support them.”
The donations included: $1,500 to the boys basketball team at Bayshore High School in Bradenton; $1,000 to the Venice High School football team; $1,000 to the North Port High School cheer team for new uniforms; $350 to the Southern Starz Gymnastics Booster Club in Cape Coral to pay for a photo booth at the end-of-year banquet; $3,000 to the Sarasota Shock travel baseball team; $5,000 to the North Port Junior Bobcats Pop Warner Football team for equipment shed repairs; $1,200 to the Braden River Black Pearls Dance Team; and $1,500 for a North Port High School graduation night lock-in party.
Sarah Toedman, a new home sales associate for Neal Communities, requested the donation for the Bayshore High School basketball team. Her fiancé, Robert Bennett, is the team’s coach. “I know it really meant a lot to him to get help with the program,” said Toedman. “He’s been working hard to build up the team, and they had a great year! They went to the district finals for only the fourth time in the school’s history, and Robert won coach of the year! We are so grateful to Neal Communities for investing in the team’s success.”
Neal Communities’ design manager Amy Schwake requested the donation for the Sarasota Shock travel baseball team. Her son, Graham, plays on the team and her husband, Ryan, is one of the assistant coaches. “The age group of our team, seven years old, is new to the Sarasota Shock organization,” said Schwake. “We were very fortunate to have received the donation, which covered both home and away uniforms for the players and coaches. The coaches pour their heart and soul into these baseball players, leading them through little league as well as travel baseball to help them develop their skills while maintaining a positive attitude and strong work ethic.”
“Supporting our youth means making an investment in the future of our communities and families,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $8 million Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.
The Sarasota Shock travel baseball team received a $3,000 donation from Neal Communities. Amy Schwake (back, far right) is a design manager at Neal Communities. Her son, Graham, plays on the team and her husband, Ryan, is an assistant coach.The North Port Junior Bobcats celebrate their recent win of the Premier Sports Football State Championship. They received a $5,000 donation from Neal Communities to help repair their equipment shed, which was damaged during Hurricane Ian. Harry Russom, Neal Communities’ land development manager, is also the league president of North Port Pop Warner Football.The Southern Starz Gymnastics team in Cape Coral received a $350 donation from Neal Communities to pay for a photo booth at their end-of-year banquet.
