Betsy Allen, along with her husband Dan Allen, attended the annual Portraits of PACE Luncheon on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers.   Mary Marx, President & CEO of the statewide PACE, operating 17 centers around the state, addressed the group regarding expansion.  Attendees also participated in a silent auction offering handmade jewelry, framed photography and other multi-media artwork created by the PACE girls.

The luncheon is the Center’s major annual fundraiser supporting PACE’s mission to “provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.”  Betsy and Dan Allen, and fellow members of PACE’s Believing in Girls (BIG) Society, were honored for their generous financial commitment.

PACE Center for Girls of Lee County offers year round counseling and academic services for girls, ages 12-18, who are facing challenges such as foster care, domestic violence, abuse and neglect, death of a parent, substance abuse, and/or family history of incarceration. At the request of community leaders and elected officials, PACE Lee was established in 2007 and since opening its doors has served over 300 girls find success in school, generate a positive relationship with their families and peers, and become productive members of our community.