Submitted By Emily Golden
Pace Center for Girls, Lee County will host its highly anticipated Love That Dress! event on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Described as the ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year, the 12th annual event features shopping, music, silent auctions and cocktails, with all proceeds benefiting Pace programs and services. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Embassy Suites by Hilton, 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive in Estero, with additional social distancing guidelines and safety protocols in place.
“Love That Dress! is a favorite event for fashionistas and bargain hunters alike to shop, socialize and honor the female spirit,” said Jennifer Nelson, chair of the 2020 Love That Dress! event. “Most importantly, this event helps raise funds that directly support strength-based, gender-specific programs that guide Pace girls in finding their voice, achieving their potential and becoming strong, productive and contributing members of society.”
With ticket sales beginning Aug. 1, admission is $30 in advance of the event and a limited number of VIP passes are available for $150, allowing shoppers to enjoy early access to the shopping and exclusive access to the VIP Suite Level, which features private dressing areas, express check-out and complimentary beverages, hors d’oeuvres and desserts.
Advance registration is required, and tickets will be available for purchase at LoveThatDressLeeCounty.com.
To help build an expansive inventory of fashion-forward apparel for Love That Dress!, Pace is inviting Southwest Floridians to clean out their closets for a cause with the #MakeSpaceForPace virtual dress collection. Donations of new or gently-loved dresses, shoes, handbags and accessories will later be sold at deeply discounted prices to attendees of Love That Dress!
“We are thrilled to already have an expansive collection of truly great dresses and accessories, but we are not done yet,” said Amy McQuagge, co-chair of the 2020 Love That Dress! event. “We encourage the community to drop of their donations to help us reach our goal of 4,000 incredible pieces.”
To contribute to the #MakeSpaceForPace virtual collection, drop off donations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at Pace Center for Girls, Lee County, located at 3800 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers. A donation bin is located behind the Pace building, providing a completely “contact-free” donation experience.
Proceeds from Love That Dress! support Pace Center for Girls, which provides 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.
For more information, visit PaceCenter.org/Locations/Lee or call 239-425-2366.
ABOUT PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS, LEE COUNTY
Since 2007, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has been providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The gender-specific, strength-based program is one of 22 Centers throughout Florida, and is known throughout the nation as a best practices model for diverting girls from the juvenile justice system. Pace is a registered not-for-profit organization that relies on the support of individuals, businesses, civic/community organizations and churches in Lee County in order to serve girls and their families. Since its inception, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has served more than 800 at-promise girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee County, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.
