Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned and operated private home builder, recently donated $3,000 to sponsor two events this month by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. The donation was evidence of the builder’s interest in conservation and environmental stewardship.
Neal Communities donated $2,500 to sponsor the Wild About Nature family festival on Saturday, April 1st and $500 to sponsor of the organization’s fourth annual Nature Lecture on April 19th.
The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s mission is to protect land and water resources in Southwest Florida. The organization focuses on four priorities – conserving habitat, protecting shoreline and water access, connecting lands and providing recreational access.
“Neal Communities supports the mission of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast,” said Pat Neal, president and owner of Neal Communities. “We believe in supporting efforts that are focused on protecting our natural resources and providing places, events and activities where people can connect with nature.”
The Wild About Nature festival drew an estimated 550 people to the shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve in Osprey at the beginning of the month. Families enjoyed live music, nature-based educational activities, face painting, crafts, food trucks and more.
Meanwhile, the lecture series drew in an estimated 130 people to hear Jason Vuic discuss his book, “The Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream.” The lecture, which took place at Michael’s on East, focused on how some parts of Florida were first developed in the 1950s and 1960s, including communities like North Port, Cape Coral and Port St. Lucie.
“Sponsors like Neal Communities help us protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature,” said Lee Ann Rodriguez, the director of Philanthropy for the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. “Neal Communities’ support allows us to expand our reach; save more acres; connect more kids, families and adults to nature; ensure habitat for wildlife and protect our water.”
With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.75 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. The company’s recent support of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is additional evidence of the builder’s interest in being a strong environmental steward.
Efforts are made in all of Neal Communities’ neighborhoods to preserve heritage oaks, provide lush landscaping and offer networks of trails that connect to open spaces for residents to enjoy.
In fact, environmental sustainability is part of the company’s building practices. The company was awarded Builder of the Year by the Florida Green Building Coalition for six consecutive years starting in 2013. The majority of new homes the company started after April 1 of last year are now being built to the more rigorous National Green Building Standard.
Decades before, starting in 1999, Neal Communities employed BuildSmart initiatives for some of its homes, offering an array of green choices and products for home buyers. In fact, long before Florida had stringent environmental protection laws in place for new development, Neal Communities was doing what it could to preserve natural resources.
For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com. For more information about the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, visit ConservationFoundation.com.
