Since its inception in 2000, the mission of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has been to help support programs that enhance our community's educational opportunities, youth activities, programs and care for the elderly, health, libraries, cultural life and environment.

The two major events the Community Fund hosts each year to achieve this goal - the Lakewood Ranch Gala and the Annual Golf Tournament - have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for these programs.

We also have a heritage of working with non-profit institutions to help them locate here and have contributed to schools, parks, the YMCA, Red Cross and others. For example, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the parent company of the developers of Lakewood Ranch, have recently donated approximately two acres of land to the United Way and Manatee Chamber of Commerce, who will share a 5,000 square foot building planned for the site.

The spirit of philanthropy you find here begins with the residents of our community, who freely give of their time and energy to volunteering and fund raising for charities and non-profits.