February 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the PACE Center for Girls of Lee County. The PACE Center has provided academic and social services to over 600 local girls and young women, and has seen many achievements and milestones in recent years. In commemoration of this decade of service, PACE Center for Girls will host an anniversary celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the PACE Center located at 3800 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers.
The celebration will feature messages from founding members of the Lee County center and updates from the current Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director. A special debut performance will also be presented by the PACE Girls’ Harmony Choir, the first of its kind for the Lee Center.
All are welcome to this community event. RSVP’s can be made to Sara.Jordan@PaceCenter.org or by calling 239-425-2366 extension 2312.
“Our local Pace Center for Girls has achieved great progress these past 10 years. We continue to make positive changes in girls lives right here in Lee County. This commemorative celebration gives us pause as we build on the bright future and impact to students lives in the years to come,” said Diana Willis, Chair of the PACE Lee Board of Directors.
PACE Center for Girls, Inc., is a non-residential delinquency prevention program targeting the unique needs of girls, ages 12 to 18 years old, facing challenges such as academic failure and truancy, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, foster care, neglect, death of a parent, and family history of incarceration.
PACE is a Florida-based, not for profit organization, and the only statewide prevention program for adolescent at-risk girls in the nation. In the past year, the Lee County program provided 103 girls with education, counseling, training and advocacy resulting in 94 percent having no involvement with juvenile justice within one year of leaving PACE, 86 percent improving their academic performance and 89 percent remaining in school or obtaining employment three years after leaving PACE. As a result, PACE reduces the significant long term costs associated with teen pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment and long term economic dependency.
PACE accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children & Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals.
For information about the 10th Anniversary Celebration, please contact PACE Development Manager Sara Jordan at 239-425-2366, ext. 2312, or visit http://pacecenter.org/locations/lee
