2008/2009 ANNUAL REPORT Values and Principles Guiding Our Actions honor the female spirit We value and promote the female perspective by respecting its distinct needs, creating safe and gender responsive environments and celebrating the female experience. focus on strengths We look to identify strengths in our girls, their families, our staff and supporters. Using these strengths as our foundation, we build strong, confident, productive community participants. act with integrity and positive intent We believe that all actions and decisions must be guided by the highest ethical principles, respecting the uniqueness of all involved and honoring the differences. embrace growth and change We believe that everyone is capable of remarkable growth, and PACE values only by encouraging change can individuals, organizations and society reach their full potential. all girls and value the wisdom of time young women, We understand that patience can be as powerful as immediate action, and each has its place. We value the discernment required believing each for their effective use. one deserves exhibit courage We think courage is essential in making a difference, enabling us to an opportunity speak for those who cannot, take risks to do what is right, deliver to find her voice, just and fair consequences and be accountable for our actions. achieve her seek excellence We strive for excellence in all we accomplish by holding true to potential and our mission while consistently meeting high standards of perfor- mance, reflecting critically upon our accomplishments, seeking celebrate a life innovative solutions and believing all things are possible. defined by create partnerships We believe in developing effective partnerships and long-term responsibility, relationships by listening to our staff, our girls and their families dignity, serenity and our communities, incorporating their input and involving them in our decision-making. and grace. invest in the future We place our faith in the long-term growth and development of our girls, staff, agency and communities, believing it is the best strategy for creating results that have lasting impact. • 6 • Letter from 25th Anniversary • 20 • Honorary Chair • 1 • • 11 • Portrait of Success Congresswoman Letter from Interim The Dragonfly Story Wasserman • • President and CEO 21 Schultz • 12 • Porscha’s Story • 2 • 25th Anniversary • 7 • • • Jamie’s Story Celebration 22 Letter from Sponsors Financial Senator Nelson • 3 • Summary Board of Trustees • 13 • • 8 • • • and Executive Staff The History 25 Letter From of PACE Angel’s Story Congressman • 4 • Crenshaw • 27 • 25th Anniversary • 17 • Celebration PACE at a Glance Government • 9 • and Community Letter from • 5 • • 18 • Partners Governor Crist 25th Anniversary The PACE Program • • Honorary 28 • 10 • Committee • 19 • List of Supporters 25th Anniversary Portrait of Risk Pioneer Award • • 39 Recipients, PACE Center Past and Present Locations Board Chairs and CEOs A letter from interim President and CeO Mary Marx dear friends of pace, the National Council on Crime and Delin- quency’s (NCCD) Center for Girls and Young The words of Dr. Etter Turner embody Women. Through this partnership we are the transformation at PACE over this past analyzing the theoretical foundations of “Let us look to year. In 2008/2009, PACE Center for Girls the PACE model and aligning it with the had the unique opportunity to “look to the most current research on effective practice. the past with past with grateful hearts, to the present My second priority was to strengthen with honest eyes and to the future with our relationships with our stakeholders. grateful hearts, open minds.” We took the opportunity to PACE continues to be a strong voice for reflect on our rich heritage and look toward girls and a resource for our communities to the present the future with vision, focus and integrity. because of the hard work and dedication of with honest eyes, In “a changing today and a challenging our community partners. Involving multiple tomorrow”, we are building wisely on constituencies in believing in girls is the to the future PACE’s success and history. foundation upon which PACE is built. Their PACE’s rich past is evident in the collective commitment, and the careful with open minds, national recognition and impressive stewardship of the Board of Trustees, accolades received over 25 years. Most continues to advance the well-being of that with gratitude importantly, it is evident in the faces of all girls and young women. the many girls whose lives are changed We had clear priorities. We used and integrity and every day at PACE. research and data effectively. And, we vision, we may Over the next 25 years, we plan to engaged a network of partners who bring develop ever more effective services for diverse perspectives to our work. Through- build wisely in a the welfare of all girls. To prepare, we out, we are guided by how collectively we looked critically at the present and took can provide girls and young women an changing today steps to meet the challenges of the future. opportunity for a better future. We became more flexible so we could and a challenging respond to local, state and national opportunities. We became more strategic tomorrow, on the to influence issues of importance to all girls Respectfully, and young women. And, we fundamentally rich heritage of a transformed our leadership and governance known yesterday.” model to remain at the forefront in the development of effective public policy. These changes were essential to a strong future for PACE and the future that all girls deserve. mary marx — Dr. etter turner Over the past year, I had two priorities Interim President and CEO fOrMer DeAn Of stuDents, stetsOn uniVersity as Interim President & CEO. The first was to ensure that our program model remains current and effective for girls. With support from the Office of Juve- nile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, we initiated a 2-year partnership with 1 PACe Center fOr Girls 2008/2009 annuAl report Jamie’s Story “Ever since I was in first grade I was picked on for my weight, how I dressed, how I talked, pretty much anything someone could find that was wrong with me. One day I had enough, and I got into a fight. This is when my mother said — enough! And she put me in an online school. The online school was difficult because it’s hard for me to work without someone helping me. That’s when my mom told me about PACE. When I learned more I knew it was the best place for me. When I came to PACE, for the first time ever, I finally felt like I ‘fit in.’ Now I’m getting good grades. My mother is so happy and proud of me. I always thought that I would be the one to drop out in high school, but not anymore!” — Jamie M. age 13 hope. love. ChAnGe. fOr 25 yeArs. 2 Board of trustees July 2008 to June 2009 ellen f. parker, esq., chair Assistant Counsel, Darden restaurants, inc. carole eastman Zegel, vice chair executive Director, state Attorney, eighth Judicial Circuit (retired) A Florida-based, Jeff blass, MBA, treasurer senior Vice President, suntrust Bank, inc. nationally recognized penelope blair, CFTA, secretary 501(c)3 prevention senior Vice President, us trust, Bank of America program for girls Private Wealth Management and young women. martha bibby, executive committee President, Bibby enterprises lls mattie fraser, sphr, executive committee the mission former Governor, summit & florida District, Civitan international To provide girls and sherrill williams ragans, executive committee young women an Director of student Affairs, florida state opportunity for a university (retired) better future through Jon boring Associate Partner, iBM Global services education, counseling, training and advocacy. dr. tony leisner Professor, school of Public Policy, Walden university Joanne m. o’connor Jones foster Johnston & stubbs, P.A. dr. sandra pavelka, ph.d. Director, institute of youth and Justice studies, florida Gulf Coast university executive Staff mindy reeves July 2008 to June 2009 Director of Advertising sales, Bright house networks mary marx elba robertson interim President & CeO Board of Governors, Pensacola Junior College foundation nan davis Juliet sears Director of finance executive Vice President, CBiZ Benefits & insurance services shirley James Director of human resources John a. schifino, esq. Williams schifino Mangione & steady, P.A. debbie moroney Director of Program & Public Partnerships shearna tolbert, ed.s Psychologist, Marion County Public schools Jill guffey dee thomas Director of Management information President, ewing & thomas, inc. systems kristin webster Program Director, 19th Circuit Public Defender’s Office 3 PACe Center fOr Girls 2008/2009 annuAl report 2008/2009: 25 years of Believing in Girls It is a milestone year for Pace Center for Girls, Inc. As we recognize all that PACE has accomplished over the past 25 years, we thought it important to reflect upon our past and build wisely for the future. The courage and accomplishments of our girls continue to be our inspiration as we celebrate 25 years of Believing in Girls. The rich heritage upon which PACE is built is evident in the faces of the many thousands of girls whose lives have been changed at PACE. PACE Center for Girls, Inc. began in 1985 as an alternative to institutionalization and incarceration of girls and young women at risk of entering, or who were already involved in, the juvenile justice system. Today the mission of PACE has expanded to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The philosophical foundation of carrying out the mission is that PACE values all 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. Over the past 25 years, PACE Center for Girls, Inc.