The community gathered to celebrate girls and young women in Palm Beach County, tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers.
Photo Credit: Kelly Obrien, Coastal Click Photography
Claude Dubois, Ross Dyer, Landon Chase, Desiree, Dara Dyer, Kaliyah, Audra Cohill, Scott McClelland
West Palm Beach, FL – Over 300 people attended Pace Center for Girls Palm Beach’s “Believing in Girls Empowerment Luncheon,” presented by The Chase Family’s Palm Harbor Marina, The Palm Beaches, Florida, at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts–Cohen Pavilion, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, on Thursday, November 13. Themed as “Enchanted Forest,” Nikita Ramos of WPBF 25 was the emcee of the uplifting event, which featured powerful testimonies from Pace girls whose lives have been positively impacted by the programs the second-chance school offers them. Pace alumni, Lyndora Frazier, concluded the event by sharing her story and empowering girls to “trust the process” of growth.
Mindy Hanken, Blanca Lopez Mackrey, Bonnie Eggen, Ana Rodriguez, Javid Khan, Pamela Pangas Cope, Sherry Thompson, Rhonda Rosen Virgin, Esther Uria LaBovick
Pace believes that 'Every Girl Deserves' a future filled with opportunities, respect, and agency to pursue her dreams. The event served as a reminder of the progress achieved by the community, while also urging us to envision the next phase of this critical mission. The event could not have been made possible without the support of sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and supporters.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us in celebrating our girls and their remarkable resilience,” said Mindy Hanken, Executive Director of Pace Palm Beach. “Seeing our community come together to empower our girls and invest in their futures is truly inspiring. Their support, along with that of our sponsors and attendees, makes it possible for us to create meaningful experiences that help our girls continue to grow into the strong, confident, and capable young women we know they are.”
Sasha Welsh, Sarah Sems, Dr. Kandace Kichler, Melani Morassutti, Ashley Coppola, Cora-Leigh Hutchinson-Gray
The girls and young women Pace supports receive academic instruction and work closely with counselors and therapists trained in girl-centered and trauma-based therapy. They also receive life coaching to learn basic life skills, such as personal hygiene, grocery shopping, and how to secure their first job. These resources are made available to girls at no cost.
Esther Uria LaBovick, Kelly Domnick
At the event’s conclusion, Pace Palm Beach presented two awards to organizations that significantly support its mission to build brighter futures for girls in the community. The Community Cares Award was presented to Dress for Success Palm Beaches in recognition of its partnership with Pace to ensure girls have access to clothing and accessories that help them feel confident and prepared for career-building activities. The Spirit of Philanthropy Award was presented to Cleveland Clinic Florida for its outstanding contributions to Pace Palm Beach, including the Creative Station and Posh Shop, which are available to girls at its Palm Springs campus.
Sherry Thompson, Bonnie Eggen, Keely Gideon-Taylor, Dr. Kandace Kichler, Sophia Perialas, Rhonda Rosen Virgin
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a premier cultural venue in South Florida, consistently recognized for its excellence, having received accolades from Palm Beach Illustrated’s “Best of the Palm Beaches,” South Florida Parenting Magazine, and the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award. Pace Palm Beach’s “Believing in Girls Empowerment Luncheon” was put together by program underwriters, Girls Glam Artist, and Sarah Sems with Sems Makeup Artistry, as well as Armored Consulting Group, for the enchanted forest-themed decor.
The event co-chairs were Keely Gideon-Taylor and Ana Rodriguez. The “Believing in Girls Empowerment Luncheon” committee included: Keely Gideon-Taylor, Ana Rodriguez, Bonnie Eggen, Cora Leigh Hutchinson, Dr. Kandace Kichler, Sophia Perialas, Sherry Thompson, and Rhonda Rosen Virgin. Sponsors included: The Chase Family’s Palm Harbor Marina, The Palm Beaches, FL, Regions Bank, JSR Design Group, Coach Roux, LLC, Comcast, Florida Power & Light, HCA Florida Healthcare, Kandace Kichler, Keely Gideon-Taylor, Couch Roux, LLC, Dress for Success Palm Beaches, Generation Church, Slimming Surgeon, Inc., Third Federal Bank, Wild Orchid Candle Company, LaBovick Law Group, Reisen Construction, The Palm Beach Post Local IQ, The Nancy Baer Foundation for Children, Nextera Energy Resources, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, and Smith, Ball, Daez Injury Lawyers.
To learn more about Pace Center for Girls Palm Beach or how to get involved, visit https://www.pacecenter.org/palm-beach or contact Chrissy Rinehart, Development Manager at christina.rinehart@pacecenter.org.
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About Pace Center for Girls
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 educational 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, visit www.pacecenter.org.
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