FRONT PORCH

Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities, recently donated $10,000 as a premier event sponsor of the Suncoast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair. The 8th Annual HBCU College Fair was a sold-out event that opened with a performance by the Gibbs High School marching band and included 21 HBCUs and featured guest speaker Tim Fields, co-author of “A Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions.”

The college fair provided insights into college admission and financial aid and raffled off laptops and iPads. Students had the opportunity to speak to alumni and admissions reps from colleges and universities and to learn about the admissions process, financial aid, scholarships, Greek life and more. Held April 6 at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, it’s the only HBCU College Fair in the area.

The Suncoast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America supported students through the Cheryl Elaine Wooding Scholarship Fund. Wooding was a charter member of the chapter and the mother of Neal Communities Area Sales Manager Elayne McKinney, who also served as co-chair of the event and is a past president of the chapter.

“The event this year was a resounding success,” McKinney said. “This organization means so much to me, and it is just wonderful to see these young students celebrating education and community spirit, while getting excited about college opportunities.”

“Our heartfelt thanks go to our sponsors, including Neal Communities,” said McKinney. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this remarkable achievement and look forward to continuing the legacy and significance of HBCUs at future events.”

This is Neal Communities largest donation to Jack and Jill of America to date. Last year, Neal Communities donated $2,500 to sponsor the HBCU College Fair. With a philanthropic culture and 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.