Pace Center for Girls, Lee’s popular fundraising event, Love That Dress!, has raised $65,000 to support Pace Lee programs.

“We’re thankful for all who came out to this year’s Love That Dress!, joining our efforts to empower Pace girls in finding their voice and achieving their full potential,” said Jennifer Cellitti, executive director of Pace Center for Girls, Lee. “Beyond the fun and fashion of Love That Dress! is the impact of dollars raised, supporting programs that enable girls and young women to celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace.”

Described as the ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year, Love That Dress! featured three fun-filled days of shopping Aug. 19-21 at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Estero, where a collection of 9,000 high-quality, brand-new boutique and gently used dresses, shoes, handbags and accessories were sold at deeply discounted prices.

Proceeds from Love That Dress! shopping and its virtual silent auction will support academic programs and counseling services to girls and young women ages 11 to 18 who are working to overcome risk factors such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster home placement, neglect, grief, incarceration of a family member, mental health and physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

Pace Lee also brought 15 Pace girls to join the Love That Dress! fun, providing a special shopping session with opportunities for the girls to dress up, shop and honor the female spirit.

Sponsors for Love That Dress! included Designer sponsor Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. VIP Suite sponsors included California Closets, Noelle Casagrande “Fashionista Friends,” Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Laser Lounge Spa, Marja Norris and Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group, Priority Marketing, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Seminole Casino Hotel, Anna “Boots” Tolles, Kellie Urban and Peggy Vogelsinger. Media sponsors were 96.9 WINK FM and Gulfshore Life. The Storage Unit sponsor was Kelly Fayer Law Firm. Volunteer Meal Sponsor was Jason’s Deli. In-Kind sponsors included Embassy Suites and Miromar Outlets.

To learn more about Pace Lee and its programs, visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee or call 239-425-2366.

About Pace Center for Girls, Lee

Pace Center for Girls, Lee, envisions a world where all girls and young women have power, in a just and equitable society. 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 www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.