FRONT PORCH

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (DATE 2025) – Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $64,621 to support community events in February, March and early April.

Neal Communities is a long-time supporter of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, providing financial and human capital help in a variety of ways, including board members, mentors and event support.  In addition, the company provides a four-year $13,121 university scholarship for Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, which has provided mentoring and scholarships to Manatee County students for more than 20 years.  A scholarship winner will be named later this spring.

The company also supported Take Stock in Children Sarasota with a $2,500 presenting sponsorship of the organization’s Mentor Appreciation Breakfast and a $2,500 sponsorship of its Celebration of Hope.

The Venice Blues and BBQ will take place on March 21-23 at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds and feature live music on two stages from both national and regional touring acts along with a Florida BBQ Association-sanctioned competition with a People’s Choice Award, live muralists painting, food trucks, cold drinks and vendors. Neal Communities is a $10,000 headlining sponsor for the event.

Neal Communities provided support to two events at the Out of Door Academy.  The company donated $2,500 to the Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic, which helps to fund a scholarship to the school.  The Dancing with Clayton Foundation helps a student at Out of Door Academy who is currently battling cancer and Neal Communities donated $2,500 to the foundation.

Two upcoming advocacy programs will be sponsored in part by Neal Communities.  The Take Stock in Children Florida Leadership Day at the Capitol ($5,000) and Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County Sponsorship of National Days of Advocacy in Washington DC ($5,000) are being supported by Neal Communities.

Neal Communities will also serve as a $3,000 sponsor of the Special Equestrians Taste of Love Wine & Food Extravaganza, set for March 23, a $2,500 sponsor of Mote Marine’s Farm to Fillet lunch and exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Mote’s Aquaculture Research Park as well as a $1,500 Finish Line Sponsor for the Friends of the Legacy Trail 2025 Tour de Parks on March 23.

The Women’s Resource Center is a non-profit organization that provides critical programming to individuals in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, and Neal Communities has provided $5,000 in support to the organization. The Women’s Resource Center programs include mental health and wellness initiatives, resource counseling, financial and legal consultations, life skills coaching, career guidance and scholarships for education.

Neal Communities has also supported Feeding Tampa Bay, a food rescue and distribution organization serving West Central Florida, with a $2,500 donation.

In addition, Neal Communities provided a $2,500 Birdie Sponsorship for the Classical Academy Golf Tournament set for April 21, a $1,000 sponsorship of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Dance Marathon, a $1,000 Bronze sponsor of the 3^rd Annual United Way Suncoast Rise Gala on April 1, a $1,500 sponsorship of the Hillsborough Education Foundation Play FORE Education Golf Classic and a $1,000 sponsorship of the Palm Aire County Club Golf Tournament.

Many of these donations came as a result of a Neal Communities employee who is actively involved in these organizations. By making a request through the company’s Plan for Giving, the company supports causes that are important to its staff along with quality-of-life initiatives and education.

“Our employees continue to bring forward causes that are close to their hearts and which deserve support from Neal Communities as well as the entire Southwest Florida region,” says Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs for Neal Communities, who administers the company’s philanthropic efforts. “

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.