{"id":250333,"date":"2026-04-28T23:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T23:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250333\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T23:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T23:20:18","slug":"pace-center-for-girls-lee-celebrates-grande-dames-tea-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250333\/","title":{"rendered":"Pace Center for Girls, Lee celebrates Grande Dames Tea"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Sold-out event honored Bobbie D\u2019Alessandro, Gail Markham and Arden McCurdy <\/p>\n

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2026 Grande Dames – Bobbie D’Alessandro, Arden McCurdy, and Gail Markham. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Grande Dames Tea 2026 honorees on stage. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Pace girls perform spoken word performance at 2026 event. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Darlene Grossman, Samira Beckwith, and Karla Herrera. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Amira Fox and Mark Loren. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Kellie Burns and Sandra Pavelka. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Robbie Roepstorff and Katie Shea. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Stephanie Davis and Marc Collins. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Sally Jackson, Noelle Casagrande, and Margo Brewster. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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John Agnew and Suzanne Boy. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Anne Wittenborn, Mark Stevens, Nicole Stevens, and Sally Jackson. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Judy Williams, Mark Blust, Susan Blust, and Theresa Ayers. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Gary Griffin, Mary Love, and Will Prather. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Jennifer Denike and Rachel Peacock. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Dawn Belamarich and Jennifer Cellitti. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Trish Petrosky and Bruce Strayhorn. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Kellie Urban and Angela Melvin. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Taylor Woods and Jessi Norvell. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Lizbeth Benacquisto, Stefanie Ink, and Marcia Davis. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Kevin Anderson and Bruce Strayhorn. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Kelly Fayer and Marilyn Santiago. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Sophia Shahriari, Dana Vargas, Nicki McTeague, Teri Hansen, Emily Golden, Rachel Toomey, Katie Damminger, and Megan Garner. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Anne Campbell and Lou Pontius. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Marguerite DeSchutter, Liston Bochette, and Craig Pisaris-Henderson. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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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 \u2013 Bobbie D\u2019Alessandro, Gail Markham and Arden McCurdy \u2013 for their significant impact on the community.<\/p>\n

Pace\u2019s Grande Dames Tea honors women who exemplify the organization\u2019s 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\u2019s theme, \u201cHonoring the Wisdom of Time,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

About Pace Center for Girls, Lee<\/p>\n

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\u2019 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\u2019s leading advocates for girls in need. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee, call 239-425-2366 or visit pacecenter.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n


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