Pace Center for Girls, Lee County’s virtual dress collection, #MakeSpaceForPace, has raised a record number of fashion-forward apparel for its Love That Dress! shopping event. Initially scheduled for fall 2020, Love That Dress! will now take place in 2021, with a new date to be announced.
The #MakeSpaceForPace campaign encouraged the community to clean out their closets for a cause, helping build an expansive inventory for Pace’s highly anticipated shopping event. Nearly 6,000 brand-new and gently loved dresses, separates, shoes, handbags and accessories were donated. These items will later be sold at deeply discounted prices to attendees of Love That Dress!
“We are so honored by the incredible number of donations received through our first #MakeSpaceForPace dress collection,” said Jennifer Nelson, chair of the 2020 Love That Dress! event. “While we made the difficult decision to postpone our event, we look forward to unveiling these incredible donations at a later date when we can safely gather for an evening of fun and fashion while helping raise critical funds for Pace programs.”
The expansive collection features thousands of dresses and separates from well-known brands including high-end brands like BCBG, Calvin Klein, Lilly Pulitzer, Ralph Lauren, St. John Collection, Tory Burch and White House Black Market. Along with gently loved contributions from individual community supporters, local businesses also have donated thousands of brand-new items. The inventory for Love That Dress! also includes 385 brand-new gowns donated by Macy’s as well as more than 2,000 items donated from a Coconut Point boutique.
“Donations from local businesses and community donors is what makes Love That Dress! such a fashion-forward and budget-friendly event,” said Amy McQuagge, co-chair of the 2020 Love That Dress! event. “Thanks to the community’s generosity, for the first time ever, we’ll have the unique ability to restock our merchandise throughout the event with amazing, high-quality clothing and accessories.”
The new date for Love That Dress! will be announced soon. To sign up for event updates, visit LoveThatDressLeeCounty.com. For more information, visit 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 21 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.
