BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is supporting and sponsoring the 18th annual Big Backpack Event, a yearly back-to-school festival and school supply giveaway hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida.
As part of the initiatives for the south region, which encompasses Lee and Collier Counties, the builder chose to help fund the Lee County’s biggest back-to-school outreach program again. Last year, Neal Communities contributed more than $11,000, helping over 1,100 children.
“Committed to the community, our team takes great pride in giving back to the people of this region,” said Michael Greenberg, southwest Florida regional president for Neal Communities. “This is a worthy cause, and we want to help make the Big Backpack Event an even bigger success. This year, our donation goal is $15,000. In addition to what we raise through our employees, residents and trade partners, Neal Communities will also contribute up to $2,500 in matching dollars.”
In addition to making contributions, many of the team at Neal Communities also work the community event. Several of the homebuilder’s employees, including Greenberg, will do the same this year.
To date, the popular event has provided more than 35,000 Lee County school-aged children in need with free backpacks and necessary school supplies.
From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, the Big Backpack Event will take place at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School at 4750 Winkler Ave. in Fort Myers. Admission is free to this community event, and attendees will enjoy family-friendly festivities, including face painting, inflatables, clowns and live multicultural entertainment on the main stage.
For each $10 donation, the Big Backpack Event provides a student with a new backpack and school supplies that include notebook paper, folders, crayons, glue, pencils and pens. Children age 5 through 12 will receive free backpacks and school supplies, while supplies last.
Last year, more than 10,000 people attended the event, over 2,000 children received backpacks and school supplies and approximately 50 vendors participated.
The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida’s mission is to promote and embrace diversity in the community and support Lee County school children of all cultures start the back-to-school season with confidence and pride.
About Neal Communities
With over 40 years of building award-winning homes, Neal Communities has over 70 successful communities throughout southwest Florida. The Lakewood Ranch-based builder was named the Professional Builder 2015 “Builder of the Year” and was named one of 2012’s “America’s Best Builders” by BUILDER Magazine and voted the “2013 Best Residential Builder in Southwest Florida” in a readers’ poll sponsored by Gulfshore Business Magazine. The company is ranked No. 1 locally by Metrostudy and by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence based on number of home sales and ranked nationally among the top 50 builders by BUILDER Magazine.
To date, Neal has built over 12,000 homes in southwest Florida. As the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities is continually striving for excellence in every aspect of the home building and development business. Neal Signature Homes, Neal Land Ventures, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding, Fiducia Insurance and Allegiant Title Professionals all contribute to the firm’s continued, record-setting local success. The company’s honors and accolades include 44 Parade of Homes awards, 50 Aurora Awards, 5 Best in American Living Awards and hundreds of local and regional industry awards. For more information, please visit www.NealCommunities.com.