Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, made a donation in the amount of $2,000 to Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.
The donation includes two components. The first was a $1,000 Outreach level sponsorship of the Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, which was held on March 8 at Michael’s on East. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the past year and honored the valued youth and adult volunteers that participate in Teen Court programs.
The other $1,000 is earmarked to provide a total of 10 mental health counseling sessions for teens who are struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety and emotional trauma. Teen Court of Sarasota offers private counseling sessions with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) free of charge to program participants in both North and South County. For many, these sessions result in improved overall mental and behavioral health as well as improvement in school and home.
“This generous gift will allow us to focus on serving our clients and not working endlessly on how we will pay for it. We are thankful that Neal Communities chose our youth population to support,” said Heather Todd, executive director of Teen Courts of Sarasota.
Since 2018, Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, has personally donated more than $10,000 to Teen Courts of Sarasota. Neal said, “I believe this is a very worthwhile program for the youth in our community, both for the at-risk teens and for the student volunteers who are learning about how the legal and judicial system works. Teen Court is making a difference in the outcome of these teens’ lives.”
Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. provides students ages 8-18 with educational youth development activities that are designed to meet the specific needs of at-risk youth and student volunteers. In an attempt to make the community safer by reducing juvenile delinquency, all youthful participants become engaged in activities tailored to confront the many challenges facing youth in Sarasota County. Teen Court of Sarasota offers educational classes and intervention services that transform the lives of young people and help them become active participants in finding solutions for problems that impact their community.
Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $7.75 million Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.
