Pictured left to right is Anne LeBaron, CEO of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County; Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and government affairs, and Ann Colonna, community liaison with Take Stock in Children of Manatee County alongside students of the program at Braden River High School.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities, recently donated $10,600 to Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. The donation will be presented to a high school senior during their 2023 graduation to help pay for college.

“We are happy to provide a college scholarship to a student in the Take Stock in Children of Manatee County program,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “This program is designed to make a difference in our community and the lives of our students.”

Neal Communities has been a community partner and supporter of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County since 2017. In total, Neal Communities has donated $16,100 to the organization. This year’s donation is the largest contribution made by the homebuilder.

Take Stock in Children of Manatee County offers individual mentoring for students in the program. The students, who are deemed high potential in low-income families, apply for the program in middle school and are paired with a college success coach, who assists them in gaining college readiness skills throughout middle and high school. Upon graduation, each student in the program earns a scholarship, which is made possible through community donations. Since the mid-90s, Take Stock in Children of Manatee County has awarded 777 scholarships.

“We are thrilled that Neal Communities has provided a scholarship for one of our 2023 graduates,” said Anne LeBaron, CEO of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. “Our program is designed to help students shape their futures. We rely on community partners to make what we do possible, and we are so thankful for Neal Communities’ continued support.”

LeBaron said the “secret sauce” to the program is that “each student is matched with a mentor who walks with them throughout their years in school. Neal Communities has several mentors in our program. They spend 30 minutes a week mentoring, and we are so grateful for their support.”

Those mentors on staff at Neal Communities include Steve Abraham, Pam Curran, MaryAnn Koops, Sarah Toedman, Ivory Matthews, Michael Storey and Katie Rhyne.

Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 18,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

For more information about Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, visit www.manateetakestock.org. For more information about Neal Communities, visit www.nealcommunities.com.

About Neal Communities
Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 18,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. The company consistently ranks among the nation’s top 100 home builders and has earned numerous awards including the prestigious Builder of the Year from Professional Builder in 2015 and America’s Best Builder in 2012 from BUILDER Magazine. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. Company sales in fiscal year 2019 were $410 million.

Additional Neal Communities brands include Neal Signature Homes, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding and Allegiant Title Professionals. For more information, please visit https://www.nealcommunities.com/.