LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (November 6, 2020) – Neal Land & Neighborhoods, a Manatee and Sarasota-based master land planner and development organization with a community-minded spirit, establish a Pay It Forward program to give back to those who are less fortunate this season. The program, in partnership with Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee and Step Up Suncoast, further delivers on the developer’s core values to make a lasting difference in the community they call home.
“Our difference is seen in how we participate in our community and our conscious efforts to make a positive impact,” shared John A. Neal, President of Neal Land and Neighborhoods. “Our flagship community, North River Ranch, provides the ideal opportunity to launch the Pay It Forward program.
The Pay It Forward program will continue into and throughout 2021 with pledged contributions to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee and Step Up Suncoast. With stewardship at the core of this local southwest Florida company’s values, community support and outreach remain a top priority.
Earlier this year, in response to an increased need for meals amid COVID-19, Neal Land & Neighborhoods made a $10,000 donation to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. In continuation of this partnership, Neal Land & Neighborhoods has worked closely with Kelly Sivyer, Development Administrator, with their pledge of feeding 15 families two or more square meals a day for three days per contribution.
“We look forward to growing this partnership and working with you to provide nutrition and caring, supportive services to those in need in Manatee County,” said Amy Towery, Vice President of Development, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee provides nutritional assistance and caring, supportive services to homebound seniors and disabled residents throughout Manatee County.
Also part of the Pay It Forward program, Neal Land & Neighborhoods has become a founding member of Step Up Suncoast’s Founding 50, a marked commitment as the organization celebrates 50 years of inspiring hope.
Jill Gass, Director of Development at Step Up Suncoast commented, “I’m so excited to start working with Neal Land & Neighborhoods, this is exactly the type of support our community needs. We appreciate the ingenuity in making it happen!”
Step Up Suncoast provides services to over 12,000 individuals across five counties, with programs that take a multi-generational approach to combat poverty, guide change and encourage movement toward personal, lifelong self-reliance. The organization empowers individuals and families to achieve long-term economic stability through education, support services and community partnerships.
Neal Land & Neighborhoods has pledged to donate $5,000 over the next five years toward supporting the Step Up Suncoast programs. The initial contribution will support preschool classrooms in providing the necessary health and safety supplies needed to comply with the CDC guidelines. The funds pledged will meet the organization’s changing needs throughout the year.
“Recognizing the on-going need in our community, partnering with these two local non-profits is our way of doing our part to be stewards of the community and live out our values,” added Neal.
For more information on Neal Land & Neighborhoods, including the company’s core values and current happenings, visit www.NealLand.com.
About Neal Land & Neighborhoods
Neal Land & Neighborhoods is a Manatee and Sarasota, Florida-based master-planned community development organization led by John A. Neal. The company incorporates smart master-planning to create the next level of elite community living in Southwest Florida. By working with carefully selected new home builders, Neal Land & Neighborhoods aims to establish thriving, sustainable, livable and ecologically sensitive communities throughout Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties. Neal Land & Neighborhoods currently owns or controls several thousand acres of land entitled for more than 9,000 future residential homes and the supporting mixed-use commercial and retail. To learn more about Neal Land & Neighborhoods, current and future projects, visit https://www.nealland.com/.
About Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
While initially founded in 1972, with the purpose of providing hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled residents of Manatee County, Meals on Wheels of Manatee, Inc. became so much more. The organization grew over the years in response to community needs, and the “PLUS” was eventually added to the name as a way of representing the many other services offered. The mission of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is to assist individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring, supportive services. Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee offers comprehensive care and essential programs that assist people to live independently. While services include delivering hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled, other essential programs include The Food Bank of Manatee, Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Centers.
About Step Up Suncoast
Incorporated in 1968, Step Up Suncoast provides services to over 12,000 individuals annually across five counties. With a budget of just over $18 million, our work allows us to assist low-income families with both crisis services and various programs centered around early childhood development. Our mission is focused on holistic programs to break the multigenerational cycle of poverty through education, support services, and community partnerships.