Pace Center for Girls, Lee celebrates Grande Dames Tea
Pace Center for Girls hosted its 18th annual Grande Dames Tea in support of Pace programs in Lee County. The sold-out celebration was held April 14 at Broadway Palm and honored three local women – Bobbie D’Alessandro, Gail Markham and Arden McCurdy – for their significant impact on the community.
Pace’s Grande Dames Tea honors women who exemplify the organization’s guiding principles and have made a significant impact through their roles in business, community and philanthropy. The inspirational event recognized the unique perspectives and powerful insights that these women gained throughout their life journeys, and the importance of passing this knowledge along to future generations. With the event’s theme, “Honoring the Wisdom of Time,” the honorees shared their wisdom during a Q&A session led by the young women of Pace. Guests also enjoyed special performances by the Pace girls, and a prize drawing featuring an array of packages from local businesses.
Pictured from left to right:
Photo 1: 2026 Honorees – Bobbie D’Alessandro, Arden McCurdy, Gail Markham
Photo 2: Dawn Belamarich, Jennifer Cellitti
Photo 3: Judy Williams, Mark Blust, Susan Blust, Theresa Ayers
Photo 4: Kevin Anderson, Bruce Strayhorn
Photo 5: Kellie Burns, Sandra Pavelka
Photo 6: Amira Fox, Mark Loren
Photo 7: Anne Wittenborn, Mark Stevens, Nicole Stevens, Sally Jackson
Photo 8: Robbie Roepstorff, Katie Shea
Photo 9: Anne Campbell, Lou Pontius
Photo 10: Lizbeth Benacquisto, Stefanie Ink, Marcia Davis
Photo 11: Taylor Woods, Jessi Norvell
Photo 12: Jennifer Denike, Rachel Peacock
Photo 13: Trish Petrosky, Bruce Strayhorn
Photo 14: Darlene Grossman, Samira Beckwith, Karla Herrera
Photo 15: Kellie Urban, Angela Melvin
Photo 16: Gary Griffin, Mary Love, Will Prather
Photo 17: Sally Jackson, Noelle Casagrande, Margo Brewster
Photo 18: Sophia Shahriari, Dana Vargas, Nicki McTeague, Teri Hansen, Emily Golden, Rachel Toomey, Katie Damminger, Megan Garner
Photo 19: John Agnew, Suzanne Boy
Photo 20: Marguerite DeSchutter, Liston Bochette, Craig Pisaris-Henderson
Photo 21: Stephanie Davis, Marc Collins
Photo 22: Kelly Fayer, Marilyn Santiago
About Pace Center for Girls, Lee
Pace Center for Girls, Lee envisions a world where all girls and young women are safe, have economic security and an equal opportunity to use their voice and achieve their potential. Founded in 1985, Pace provides free year-round middle and high school academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a safe and supportive environment that recognizes and deals with past trauma and builds upon girls’ individual strengths. Dedicated to meeting the social, emotional, and education needs of girls, Pace has a successful and proven program model that has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls in need. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee, call 239-425-2366 or visit pacecenter.org.