Community Leadership: Championing for the Greater Good

Pat’s strength and that of Neal Communities comes from a philanthropic commitment to contribute to the greater good. For Pat, this means giving back both in time and resources to community causes, programs and organizations that contribute to quality lifestyle, build a sense of community, help educate residents and support historic and environmental preservation.

Over the years, Pat Neal and Neal Communities have championed academic, athletic, cultural, environmental and philanthropic programs that give back to arts, community, and non-profit and educational organizations. Local charities and causes receiving in-kind and/or financial support include:

Local charities and causes receiving in-kind and/or financial support include:

• American Red Cross
• Association for the Study of African-American Life and History
• Boy Scouts of America
• Bradenton Opera Guild
• Child Protection Center, Inc (Sarasota County)
• Florida Independent College Fund
• Florida West Coast Symphony
• Foundation for Dreams
• Fruitville Public Library
• Girls Incorporated
• The Great Outdoors Conservancy
• Habitat for Humanity
• Head Start
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Keep Manatee Beautiful
• Manatee County Florida Chamber of Commerce
• Manatee Community College
• Meals on Wheels
• Mote Marine Laboratory
• New College of Florida
• Palmetto Youth Center
• Women’s Resource Center of Manatee County
• Manatee County YMCA

In addition to the above, Pat Neal has devoted considerable time, energy and resources as a:

Chairman, Director or Trustee for the following:

• Christian Coalition of Florida
• Community Bank of Manatee
• Judicial Nominating Commission, 12th District
• L.W. Blake Memorial Hospital
• Manatee County Florida Chamber of Commerce
• New College of Florida
• University of South Florida Foundation

Philanthropic Commitment: Without Borders

The breadth of Pat Neal’s commitment to the community knows no borders. Whether it’s donating land or spearheading economic development programs to re-build bridges and roadways or create new revenue streams for the local economy, Neal’s unabashed resolve has proven to be a stronghold for the region. Representative highlights of these types of projects include:

The Neal Preserve: protecting Manatee County’s cultural heritage

A 117-acre land donation from the Pat Neal family on the southern end of Perico Island, preserved and protected an ancient Calusa Indian site, dating back to the 11th century. An archeological dig on the site uncovered a shell midden nearly 1,000 feet long and 60 feet wide.

By donating the land and having it designated as a Preserve, the on-going discovery and study of this location has the potential of providing insights into one of the first civilizations in this area.

Gamble Mansion Restoration

Located in the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park and built in 1844, the Gamble Mansion had fallen into disrepair without the needed funds to restore it.

A donation from Pat Neal sparked a fundraising campaign that gave the Gamble Mansion new life, preserving the only surviving antebellum plantation house in Southern Florida, which is now open for public tours.