Setting the PACE for a Better Future
PACE Center for Girls, Inc. is a community-based, gender-responsive prevention, diversion and early intervention program serving girls, ages 12-17, in 17 locations across the state. The program fulfills the Department of Juvenile Justice's statutory requirement to provide prevention and gender-specific programming for girls.
PACE's successful model has been nationally recognized for helping girls find success in school, with their families and in their communities by integrating education, counseling, training and advocacy. PACE was recognized by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Girls Study Group as the most effective program in the nation for keeping adolescent girls out of the juvenile justice system and by the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Report, in a state by state analysis, as a national model for reducing recidivism and improving school success, employment and self sufficiency amongst girls.
PACE provides help for girls who come from difficult life situations with a safe, nurturing place to find a path back to hope.
These accolades are welcomed recognition of our success, but what matters more is that PACE provides help for girls who come from difficult life situations with a safe, nurturing place to find a path back to hope. More than 65% of our girls come from a single parent household. PACE understands the relationship between victimization and delinquency in girls and helps girls turn their lives around by providing quality, gender responsive education, counseling and career planning. The results are that girls stay in school, substantially reduce their chances of being involved in crime or entering the costly juvenile justice system and have hope for their futures. As a result, PACE reduces the significant long term costs associated with teen pregnancy, substance abuse and unemployment and long term economic dependency.
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Our Hero and Role Model
One of the most successful coaches in the history of college volleyball, Mary Wise has developed one of the top women's programs at the University of Florida. Along the way, Mary has embraced responsibility for being a positive role model and mentor for girls.
"I have listened to many of the girls' testimonies at PACE and I can't help but think of our own players at the University of Florida," says Mary. She adds, "I've seen firsthand where involvement in sports has kept our athletes from the same trials and tribulations the girls at PACE have experienced."
"Being part of this tournament is just one way I can give back to the community and benefit PACE," says Mary. "The money we raise will support the development of new and better facilities to further the mission of PACE and allow more girls to benefit. Your support of this event helps allow PACE to continue to grow and shine as a valuable resource to our community."