March 2022
Riverview/Apollo Beach Edition
BACK THE LINE CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT POLICE OFFICER’S FAMILY
By Brad Stager
The local communileaves behind, including ty will have a chance wife Mandy, a son and a to show its support to daughter. the family of deceased Some of those inTampa Police Officer volved with Back the Matthew McNeal by Line Charity Events participating in an have family or close ties 18-hole charity golf to the first responder tournament, promoted community and their as the Back the Line understanding of what First Annual Golf Toura public safety career nament, on Saturday, involves provides motiApril 2 at Summerfield vation to help others. Crossings Golf Club in “They give their lives Riverview. to the community and McNeal died of A charity golf tournament will be held to it’s something I’ve albrain cancer at age support the family of Tampa Police Offi- ways wanted to do,” 34 on January 2 and cer Matthew McNeal, who died of cancer said Founder of Back at the beginning of the year. McNeal had been an officer the Line Charity Events served on TPD’s bike unit. with TPD since 2014. Heather Cropper, who He was a member of the grew up in Valrico and played department’s Special Opergolf at Durant High School. ations Unit’s Bicycle OperBesides the golf tournament, ations and Response Team the Back the Line event will and earned two Life Saving include ticket drawings with Awards, an Excellent Duty prizes and dinner. Award, a Community PolicSummerfield Crossings ing Award and a Unit CitaGolf Club is located at 13050 tion during his service as a Summerfield Blvd., one mile police officer, according to east of U.S. 301, in Riverview. a TPD Facebook post, which Tournament sign-in begins at also describes McNeal as 11:30 a.m., as do the silent auc“a kind and humble man, who loved being a tion and drawing of raffle and 50/50 tickpolice officer.” McNeal was born in Tampa ets; the shotgun start is at 1 p.m.; and dinand also served as a corrections officer with ner is at 5:30 p.m. The cost to play is $125 the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office af- per golfer or $400 for a team of four. The ter earning an Associate of Arts degree at deadline to register is Saturday, March 26, Hillsborough Community College. and paid sponsorship opportunities for the The event is being organized by Back the tournament are available. For more informaLine Charity Events and is sponsored by the tion, send an email to backthelinecharity@ Firemen’s Benevolent Association of the City gmail.com or visit the Back the Line Charity of Tampa. According to organizers, the funds Events Facebook page @BackTheLineCharraised will go entirely to the family McNeal ityEvents.
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WATERSET TURKEY TROT SURPASSES $100,000 RAISED FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS
Staff Report
L o c a l school received SouthShore over $8,000 this community year, which can be Wa t e r s e t used at the discreby Newland tion of the school welcomes principals. Past runners and uses have includresidents ed technological alike every and aesthetic upThanksgivgrades, scholaring morning 2021 Waterset Turkey Trot raised money for local schools. ships and student for their Turincentives. key Trot 5K and Kids Fun Run. After going “I continue to be humbled by the comvirtual in 2020 due to the pandemic, the munity support we receive each year,” said race bounced back in a big way in 2021, Amy Stevens-Cox, principal of East Bay drawing a crowd of almost 1,000 partici- School. “Waterset’s generosity speaks volpants. The 2021 race raised over $25,000 umes. We have set a portion of the funds in proceeds, benefitting three public schools aside for scholarships for seniors, and we near the Waterset community: Doby Ele- use the remaining monies to upgrade our mentary, Eisenhower Middle and East Bay building.” High Schools. This brings Waterset’s total In addition to the Turkey Trot fundraiser, donations through the Turkey Trot to over Waterset donates several iPads each quar$110,000 in seven years. ter to deserving students at Eisenhower Waterset by Newland is owned in a joint Middle and East Bay High School. Students venture partnership between North Amer- from the schools also volunteer at a numica Sekisui House, LLC (NASH) and Brook- ber of Newland-sponsored events at the field Residential, and it is proudly managed community throughout the year, further by Brookfield Properties. These partners fostering a strong sense of connection. share a deep commitment to sustainable “We’ve had the pleasure of partnering development practices and apply these with our local public schools in a variety of core values to the vision, planning, and de- ways since Waterset’s inception,” explained velopment of their communities. Waterset the Marketing Manager for Waterset Lynby Newland is one of more than 20 commu- da McMorrow. “Our team and our residents nities this partnership manages together care deeply about our SouthShore commuacross the US. nity. We all want to help our local schools, The Waterset Turkey Trot raises money their staff and their students however we through race entry fees and sponsorships can.” from local businesses. The schools received For more information on Waterset by an even split of the proceeds and the Fish- Newland, visit www.watersetfl.com or visit Hawk Ranch Road Runners running club, the Information Center in The Landing Club which helps facilitate the run, also received & Café, which is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 $1,000 for its annual scholarship fund. Each p.m. and on Sundays from 12 Noon-6 p.m.
