Pace Center for Girls, Lee County raised $54,000 at its 11th annual Grande Dames Tea, which celebrated the unique perspectives and powerful insight that women gain throughout their life journeys.
With a theme of “The Wisdom of Time – Honoring the Female Spirit,” the Grande Dames Tea was held March 26 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers and honored three Southwest Florida women for their roles in business, community and philanthropy: Linda Brown, Doris Colgate and Mary Fischer.
“We are so thankful for the support shown by the 400 people who attended the Grande Dames Tea, as well as the 41 generous sponsors who helped make this event a success,” said Meg M. Geltner, executive director at Pace Center for Girls, Lee County. “Beyond just helping our organization raise money, our three newest Grande Dames gave some fabulous advice and life lessons to the Pace girls, who I’m certain will benefit from the candid discussion.”
Pace provides at-promise girls and young women with opportunities for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Through ticket sales and sponsorships, the Grande Dames Tea provides funds that support the organization’s strength-based, gender-specific programs that guide Pace girls in finding their voice and achieving their potential.
Also at the Grande Dames Tea, 24 generous individuals became members of the Believing in Girls Society (BIGS), which allows supporters to participate in an annual giving program.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre was the Golden Tea Leaves sponsor for the Grande Dames Tea, while Edison National Bank and Eunice and Alexandra Bremner were Silver Tea Cup sponsors. China Teapot sponsors included Mark Loren Designs, Fort Myers Infiniti and Galloway Family of Dealerships, and Silver Teaspoon sponsors were Markham, Norton, Mosteller, Wright & Company, Grande Dame Melvin Morgan and Family Thrift Center. Other sponsors included Ruth Messmer Florist (Floral Design sponsor), Caloosa Tent & Rental (Table Setting sponsor), Priority Marketing (Program Design sponsor and Media Coordinator), The News-Press Media Group (Media sponsor) and Red Door Photography (Photography sponsor). More than two dozen table sponsors also helped support the event, while Jason’s Deli provided meals for volunteers.
For further information about opportunities to support Pace Center for Girls, please visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee or call 239-425-2366.
About Pace Center for Girls, Lee County
Since 2007, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has been providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The gender-specific, strength-based program is one of 22 Centers throughout Florida, and is known throughout the nation as a best practices model for diverting girls from the juvenile justice system. Pace is a registered not-for-profit organization that relies on the support of individuals, businesses, civic/community organizations and churches in Lee County in order to serve girls and their families. Since its inception, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has served more than 650 at-promise girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee County, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.