FRONT PORCH

The region’s largest private homebuilder, Neal Communities, and its trade partners raised a record $30,975 as the presenting sponsor of the 25th Anniversary Annual BIG Backpack Event on July 28, 2024.

Hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, the annual BIG Backpack Event provided 2,500 backpacks filled with school supplies and groceries to area families with children ages 5 to 12. More than 200 volunteers, including Neal Communities’ employees and trade partners, assisted with packing supplies and distribution at the event, which took place in a drive-thru at the Fort Myers Skatium. In its 25 years, the event has donated nearly 50,000 backpacks.

“This is a great event for our employees, our trade partners and the community,” says Tim Oak, south region president of Neal Communities. “Knowing that we are helping local families with important school supplies is a great way to kick off the school year.”

This was the ninth consecutive year that Neal Communities was the presenting sponsor of the BIG Backpack Event, and this year’s donation was the largest to date collected by the homebuilder. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

The BIG Backpack Event provides children with new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, paper, crayons, folders and other essential back-to-school items as well as coupons and other giveaways.

For more information about the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, visit www.Multicultural-Centre.org. For more information about Neal Communities, visit www.NealCommunities.com.