Residents of the exclusive Lakewood Ranch community, The Lake Club, have come together in the last year to aid not only their surrounding Sarasota community, but beyond into Abaco and the Grand Bahama Island.
Shortly after the damage caused to the Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian, Lake Club residents Rob and Jackie Nielsen spearheaded an initiative to collect donations from their neighbors.
“The community's response was overwhelming,” said Lifestyle Director Jennifer Kovatch. “Our offices quickly became overrun with supplies ranging from batteries and flashlights to diapers and baby food to non-perishable food, toiletries, and first aid to pet food and kitty litter. It was a humbling and gratifying effort by all.”
It’s estimated that more than 300 items were donated and then delivered to Yellowfin Boats in Bradenton to be sent over to the affected areas. “The devastation to the Bahamas was an obvious cause for Lake Club residents to come together to provide relief to those affected. The response to my collection was overwhelming, and we were able to deliver 5 SUV loads of donated provisions. The caring and generous spirit of The Lake Club is just part of what makes this neighborhood such a wonderful place in which to live,” remarked Jackie Neilsen.
Another Lake Club resident, Jay Traverso, led a community initiative closer to home. He, along with more than 25 of his neighbors, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Sarasota to help build two single-family homes in Hammock Place. Stock Signature Homes, a premiere builder within The Lake Club, partnered with the project and provided money for building materials and dedicated staff members to assist in the build.
“What I’ve learned is that so many people in The Lake Club are willing to open their hearts and do whatever it takes – even donating their time to help build a house,” said Traverso about the experience. “The residents don’t just live here, they give back, and that’s special.”
Various residents of The Lake Club are also involved with sponsoring children for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and continuously support events held by Meals on Wheels PLUS such as “Stuff the Bus.”
ABOUT THE LAKE CLUB
The Lake Club is a Tuscan-inspired, private club community of custom luxury homes featuring scenic lakes, decorative bridges, a unique mile-long park, and a Grande Clubhouse. The Lake Club is one of 16 actively-selling villages in Lakewood Ranch, the 31,000-acre, award-winning master-planned community straddling Sarasota and Manatee counties on the west coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets of Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 30,000 residents and features A-rated schools, a hospital, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, and the Sarasota International Cricket and Rugby Club. The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club boasts three championship golf courses and tennis and athletic facilities. The Ranch also has its own Main Street with theaters, shopping and dining, and more than four million square feet of commercial property. For more information, visit www.thelakeclublwr.com or www.lakewoodranch.com.
