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The fifth annual Ten Story Challenge returns this October to raise funds to provide Pace girls with critical resources to face their fears. Lakeland, Fla. — Pace Center for Girls, Polk is pleased to announce the forthcoming Ten Story Challenge, set to take place on October 3, 2025, from 2 to 10 p.m. This year’s fundraising event, centered around empowerment and strength, invites changemakers to scale to new heights to support young women served by Pace’s academic and counseling programs. Double your impact! Thanks to the George Jenkins Foundation for matching all gifts up to $75,000. Participants will rappel from the ten-story Lakeland Electric building, which overlooks Lake Mirror and Hollis Garden in the city’s downtown district, via a partnership with Over the Edge, an urban rappelling nonprofit. “Every girl at Pace Polk has faced fears that could have held her back,” said Theresa Evans, Executive Director, Pace Center for Girls, Polk. “This annual event celebrates that courage, and we invite everyone in our community to join us in supporting their path to confidence and success.” The Day program provides young women with an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. Pace Polk served 113 girls through its day program in 2024, with students showing academic improvement and increased engagement in their communities. Whereas the Reach program provides free therapy services at local middle and high schools. The Reach program served 120 girls throughout 2024. Program highlights from the 2024 fiscal year: 8 out of 10 girls showed academic improvement, measured by Florida STAR testing. 7 out of 10 girls strengthened or maintained self-efficacy—the belief that they can succeed. 9 out of 10 girls are engaged in their community, as shown through increased healthy behaviors. By joining the campaign or making a donation, participants are raising funds to support the Pace mission and advocating for girls to face their own fears or challenges. For more information about the fifth annual challenge, please visit: https://charity.pledgeit.org/TSC2025. For registration or sponsorship details, contact Julie McCobb at Julie.mccobb@pacecenter.org. ### 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 education 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 pacecenter.org.
The fifth annual Ten Story Challenge returns this October to raise funds to provide Pace girls with critical resources to face their fears.
Lakeland, Fla. — Pace Center for Girls, Polk is pleased to announce the forthcoming Ten Story Challenge, set to take place on October 3, 2025, from 2 to 10 p.m. This year’s fundraising event, centered around empowerment and strength, invites changemakers to scale to new heights to support young women served by Pace’s academic and counseling programs. Double your impact! Thanks to the George Jenkins Foundation for matching all gifts up to $75,000.
Participants will rappel from the ten-story Lakeland Electric building, which overlooks Lake Mirror and Hollis Garden in the city’s downtown district, via a partnership with Over the Edge, an urban rappelling nonprofit.
“Every girl at Pace Polk has faced fears that could have held her back,” said Theresa Evans, Executive Director, Pace Center for Girls, Polk. “This annual event celebrates that courage, and we invite everyone in our community to join us in supporting their path to confidence and success.”
The Day program provides young women with an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. Pace Polk served 113 girls through its day program in 2024, with students showing academic improvement and increased engagement in their communities. Whereas the Reach program provides free therapy services at local middle and high schools. The Reach program served 120 girls throughout 2024. Program highlights from the 2024 fiscal year:
By joining the campaign or making a donation, participants are raising funds to support the Pace mission and advocating for girls to face their own fears or challenges.
For more information about the fifth annual challenge, please visit: https://charity.pledgeit.org/TSC2025. For registration or sponsorship details, contact Julie McCobb at Julie.mccobb@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 education 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 pacecenter.org.