25TH Anniversary Silver celebration benefitting PACE Center for Girls Broward brings in $160K

25TH Anniversary Silver celebration benefitting PACE Center for Girls Broward brings in $160K

By Cindy Schutt

      The 25th Anniversary Silver Celebration of PACE Center for Girls Broward attracted more than 275 guests and brought in $160,000 in support of the non-profit, which helps at-risk girls find successful futures through nationally acclaimed educational and counseling programs.

The Silver Celebration, presented by the Leo Goodwin Foundation, honored individuals and organizations instrumental in the founding, growth and success of PACE Center for Girls Broward, including Robert Radice, in memoriam, Senator Debby Sanderson, Leo Goodwin Foundation, Bank of America and Mark Snead.  The gala event was co-chaired by com-munity leaders Suzette Bravo and Allison Cagnetta and emceed by Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. ”Jack” Seiler, longtime PACE supporter and board member.

“The success of PACE Center for Girls Broward rests upon the efforts of a core group of a-mazing community leaders who 25 years ago recognized that our community could do a better job of steering girls away from damaging decisions and toward choices that result in successful futures,” said Aggie Pappas, MSW, executive director of PACE Center for Girls Broward and regional director of PACE Center for Girls.  “Since then we’ve helped 6,500 girls find their way, navigate their challenges and become empowered to find success.”

The success of the 25th Anniversary Silver Celebration hinged in part on a surprise Leo Goodwin Foundation challenge grant.  After accepting the honoree award on behalf of the Leo Goodwin Foundation, Trustees Elliot Borkson and Alan Goldberg announced from the podium a $25,000 donation and challenged guests to match their gift.  Five $5,000 donors stepped up resulting in a total of $50,000 raised.

This $50,000 augmented the already financially successful event thanks to generous sponsor support. Top sponsors for PACE Broward’s 25th Anniversary Silver Celebration included:  Presenting Sponsor Leo Goodwin Foundation; Diamond Sponsors Bank of America/U.S. Trust and Senator Debby Sanderson; and Host Sponsor Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six.  Sapphire sponsors were: Suzette Bravo; Broward College; CenterState Bank; Paramount Refreshment Solutions; and Jane Wexton and Marvin Pickholz.  Ruby Sponsors included: Allegiance Crane & Equipment; Calvin, Giordano & Associates; Circle of Friends Foundation/Joanne and Mark Snead; Danielle Edwards of Herbalife Nutrition; K&L Gates; Lynda Napolitano; Sam Jazayri & John Tavone; and Seiler, Sautter, Zaden, Rimes & Wahlbrink.  Emerald Sponsors were: Business & Professional Women of Fort Lauderdale, CBRE CARES Foundation; Carman Law Firm, PA.; Crowe Horwath, LLP; Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repairs/Gerry and Lucy Weber; Hoff-man’s Chocolate; Interiors by Steven G.; JLL; Kubicki Draper; Panza, Maurer & Maynard; REMS Group, Inc; Silicon Valley Bank; Steven Douglas; and Transworld Business Advisors.

Silver Celebration honorees were lauded for their incomparable commitment to PACE Center for Girls Broward.

Honoree Bank of America has partnered with PACE Broward for more than 15 years to provide corporate grants for programs for girls, general operating support, and matching gifts for associates’ donations.  In 2012, PACE Broward was given a Neighborhood Builder Award by Bank of America, an honor which included a $200,000 for the development and expansion of PACE Broward’s Reach Counseling Center.  This gift enabled PACE Center for Girls Broward to substantially grow its trauma-informed and strength-based therapeutic counseling services, which now serves hundreds of additional girls each year.  In addition, Bank of America has sponsored many PACE Broward events, provided annual grant awards, encouraged associates to volunteer at the center, and supported bank associates to take on leadership roles at PACE.

The Leo Goodwin Foundation and its trustees, the late Helen Furia, Elliot Borkson and Alan J. Goldberg, has supported PACE Center for Girls Broward from the moment the Center opened its doors, having contributed more than of 1.25 million dollars since the launch of PACE Center for Girls Broward 25 years ago. Most notably, the foundation spearheaded a capital campaign that allowed the organization to quadruple its existing space when it moved to its current 22,000-square-foot Wilton Manors campus, known as the PACE Center for Girls Leo Goodwin Campus. Leo Goodwin Foundation Trustee Helen Furia, the foundation’s designee to oversee its efforts on behalf of PACE, was beloved by all at PACE Center for Girls Broward and was a dedicated member of the Broward board of directors until she passed away in 2014. The foundation’s support of PACE faithfully continues by Trustees Borkson and Goldberg.

Robert C. Radice was a real estate developer and builder who helped bring PACE to Broward County.  When a committee was formed to bring PACE here, Radice was recruited not only for his building and development expertise but also for his dedication to children and advocacy for causes that improved their lives. In 1992, he became a founding board member and served as chair of the PACE Center for Girls Broward board, chair of the building and capital campaign committee, and on the PACE state board of trustees. As chair of the capital campaign, Radice focused his efforts on matching a $2 million grant from the Department of Juvenile Justice and provided leadership for the building’s construction. His fundraising efforts and hard work paid off:  PACE Center for Girls Broward raised $2.4 million from the local community and was able to build a beautiful, mortgage-free campus.

Senator Debby Sanderson was determined to replicate PACE services in Broward County after she visited PACE in Jacksonville. Her drive and determination convinced the founder of PACE, Vicki Burke, and others to establish a steering committee that worked to secure funding and the community support necessary to spearhead such a project.  Senator Sanderson continued to support the development of PACE Center for Girls Broward by placing $2M in the state’s budget in 1999 for PACE Broward’s new campus in Wilton Manors. The funds were matched dollar for dollar by private donations from individuals and foundations in the Broward community.

Mark Snead volunteers for PACE on a statewide level as the chair of the organization’s board of trustees, but his heart is closest to Broward, where he first got to know PACE. His journey began in 2006 when he attended PACE Broward’s “A Taste of Italy” fundraising dinner. After learning about the PACE program, he jumped in to assist with computers and other technology as a volunteer. He soon joined PACE Broward’s board of directors, and in 2010 was elected chair. During his tenure as board chair, Snead oversaw the implementation of the PACEsetters donor recognition program and the development of new services including the diversion counseling program in collaboration with the State’s Attorney’s Office. These new services allowed PACE Center for Girls Broward to triple the number of girls it serves annually. In 2011, Snead joined the statewide board of trustees, rose to chair in 2013, and continues in this role today. As chair of the board of trustees, his vision is to position the organization for growth both within Florida and nationally.

PACE Center for Girls Broward, established in 1992, provides girls with prevention and intervention non-residential services through gender-responsive programming, designed to specifically meet the needs of girls and address their unique strengths and challenges.  PACE Center for Girls Broward serves girls through its academic day program and Reach Counseling Center, providing counseling services, case management and diversion/civil citation services.

Photos:

A – Fort Lauderdale Mayor and event emcee Jack Seiler with Chae and Greg Haile

B – Michael Satz and Ayo Tillman with PACE Broward board members Judge Stacy Ross and Judge Giuseppina Miranda, and honoree Mark Snead

C – PACE Center for Girls staff members Aggie Pappas, Felicia Wriley, Yessica Cancel and Thresa Giles

D  – PACE Center for Girls Broward Silver Celebration Honorees:  Richard Zadin accepting on behalf of Robert Radice, in memoriam; Senator Debby Sanderson; Penelope Blair and Lori Chevy of Bank of America; Elliott Borkson and Alan Goldberg of Leo Goodwin Foundation; and Mark Snead.