19-05-2025
Neal Communities helps raise $10K for PACE girls through Lucky Duck Race
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (BLOOM) — What began as a personal connection more than two decades ago has blossomed into a powerful partnership between Neal Communities and the PACE Center for Girls of Manatee County, thanks in large part to Accounting Manager Jennifer Villareal.
Villareal first became involved with PACE in the early 2000s when two young women close to her attended the center. One went on to serve in Iraq with the U.S. Army; the other built a long career in childcare and is now pursuing new professional goals.
'I was able to witness first-hand the care and attention PACE provided to girls at a crucial time in their lives, when a handful of choices makes the difference between graduating high school and having opportunities—or the alternative,' Villareal said. 'When these young women achieve their goals and become empowered, productive members of our community, their success has the power to resonate across generations.'
Villareal now coordinates Neal Communities' support of the annual Lucky Duck Race, which benefits PACE Manatee. This year, the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder served as the Community Sponsor, donating $10,000 to the event. The race features adopted rubber ducks floating down the Manatee River, raising both funds and awareness for the center's mission.
PACE Center for Girls provides academic and social services through a strengths-based, trauma-informed model that focuses on the future potential of each girl. Since opening, the Manatee location has supported more than 1,500 girls and is part of a larger statewide network recognized as one of the most effective programs in the U.S. for keeping adolescent girls out of the juvenile justice system.
'We are so grateful for our partnership with Neal Communities,' said Amy Wick Mavis, executive director of PACE Manatee. 'Their investment in the future of our PACE girls demonstrates their true commitment to Manatee County.'
Beyond financial support, Villareal believes visible corporate backing sends a powerful message to the girls in the program.
'When girls attending PACE Manatee see support from companies with a large local presence, like Neal Communities, they know they are seen and supported in an incredible way beyond the halls of PACE,' she said. 'It's great that I get to share the mission of PACE with people who had no idea it even existed.'
Neal Communities has built more than 24,500 homes across 90 communities from Tampa to Naples during its 55-year history. With a company motto of 'Where You Live Matters,' Neal has donated more than $9.2 million to local charities. In fiscal year 2024, the company reported $800 million in revenue.
For more information on Neal Communities, visit
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