Centers
PACE Center for Girls of Lee County offers year round counseling and academic services for girls, ages 12-18, who are facing challenges such as foster care, domestic violence, abuse and neglect, death of a parent, substance abuse, and/or family history of incarceration. At the request of community leaders and elected officials, PACE Lee was established in 2007 and since opening its doors has served over 300 girls find success in school, generate a positive relationship with their families and peers, and become productive members of our community.
PACE Center for Girls of Lee County has selected three more women to be honored at the Fourth Annual Grande Dames Tea on Tuesday, March 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre at 1380 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers.
Mark your calendar for the annual Believing in Girls Luncheon: "Love That PACE Girl"
Friday, February 17th at the Naples Hilton
Registration begins at 11:30
Luncheon 12:00 - 1:00
Over 350 community leaders and guests attended the Dream BIG Luncheon benefiting PACE Center for Girls of Lee County on Nov. 1 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Under the leadership of co-chairs Heather Fitzenhagen DeBoest and Margaret Depew, two initiatives were presented to attendees resulting in donations and pledges totaling $64,000 for annual operations and $199,000 towards a capital campaign to open a new school. The funds raised for capital will be applied towards a $250,000 challenge gift from the Kleist Family Foundation.
“Eleanore Kleist and her family have pledged a very generous lead gift of $250,000, but they’ve called on our community to match their support,” explains Gail Markham, PACE Lee board chair, “It was thrilling to have so many friends step-up so we can meet the challenge and move forward with getting our PACE girls into a new building. These girls deserve it!”
September 26, 2011 - Jennifer Marsico, a teacher at PACE Center for Girls of Lee County in Fort Myers, Fla. was one of 40 teachers nationwide chosen to participate in a food science workshop developed and implemented in a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the Graduate School USA. The one-week workshop for middle and high school science teachers took place in Washington, D.C. this summer.
Nearly 900 guests in search of bargain priced dresses and a fun time attended the third installment of Lee County's Love That Dress! on Wednesday, August 31 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Estero.
Co-chaired by Christin Collins and Amy Sanford and presented by title sponsor White House Black Market, the event offered over 4,000 new and gently worn dresses, hundreds of designer shoes and a lavish silent auction helping to raise over $120,000 for PACE Center for Girls of Lee County. From the total raised, $5,000 will be allocated to PACE Lee's capital campaign fund to open a new Center in the coming years.
"We could not be more thrilled with the results of Love That Dress! From the first dress collection party hosted in March until the big day, the community really stepped-up to make this the ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year," said Collins, "We so appreciate our hardworking volunteers for committing to this labor of love to help our PACE girls."
Other major sponsors include the Embassy Suites Hotel, The News-Press Media Group, Florida Weekly, 96.9 WINK FM, NBC-2, Irresistible Confections, For the Bride, The Get Smart Web, Stephen J. Laquis, M.D., Home-Tech, Condo & HOA Law Group, LLC, Angelina's Ristorante and ArgoTrak Inc.
Special thanks is also extended to Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. Gulf Coast Town Center, Irberseder Production, Saks Fifth Avenue, Janet Marie Studios, TLC Marketing & Creative Services, The Prawnbroker Group, ActionCOACH, Spada Salon & Day Spa, Red Door, Gulfshore Life, Loretta Bridal Boutique, House of Wu, Red Salon & Spa, Wittenborn Plastic Surgery & Sky Med Spa, New Beginnings Events and iconDo, Inc.
Dresses still hanging after the event will be available for sale throughout the year at Hope Chest Thrift Store at 13821 North Cleveland Avenue in North Fort Myers with proceeds being shared between PACE and Hope Hospice.