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Pace Center for Girls, Lee celebrates Grande Dames Tea

Sold-out event honored Bobbie D’Alessandro, Gail Markham and Arden McCurdy

3 min read

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.

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