FRONT PORCH

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $5,000 to Take Stock in Children Sarasota County. The donation will be matched by Bright Futures to create a $10,000 scholarship for a student in the Take Stock in Children program in Sarasota County.

Established in 1995, Take Stock in Children provides services to children beginning as early as middle school and continuing through high school and college. Mentoring, coaching and scholarship programs equip students with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to attain a college degree or certification and enter the work force.

To stay in the program, students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and abide by the program’s other requirements, such as meeting with a mentor and a College Success Coach. In Sarasota County, the program currently has more than 380 students that meet with mentors twice a month. The graduation rate for participants is 97 percent.

“We are so proud to have such amazing partners in the community to enable us to provide scholarships, mentoring and hope to deserving students in Sarasota County,” said Lisa Bechtold, executive director of Take Stock in Children Sarasota County. “We are thankful for the support from Neal Communities for this and past donations.”

“As we build communities in Southwest Florida, we know it’s just as important to invest in the organizations that benefit families within the community,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “The Take Stock in Children program in Sarasota County is doing wonderful things to help students prepare for and be successful in high school, secondary school and careers, and we are happy to donate the funds for a scholarship.”

Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $8 million Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.