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Published: July 16 2012

Wendy Weber, Joe and Wini Amaturo, and Sheila Bechert at the PACE Center for Girls Tuscan dinner at Casa D'Angelo Ristorante. (Photo by Jana)

From an initiation fee at the tony Tower Club to a party for 100 at the famed and funky Elbo Room bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach. From French cooking classes from the Jean Pierre Cooking School to lunch at the Broward County Jail (part of a Sheriff for a Day package courtesy of Sheriff Al Lamberti). Plus a plethora of fine wines, a ride on the Goodyear Blimp and art work.

The live auction during a Tuscan-style dinner at Casa D’Angelo benefitting Pace Center for Girls was certainly diverse, and talented auctioneer Gordon Latz kept bidders on their toes with his fast-paced, humorous style.

 Chef Angelo Elia and his wife Denise have hosted the popular dinner at their Fort Lauderdale restaurant for a decade. “Most of the people come back every year,” he said. “How can you say no?”

The four-course menu included buffalo burrata, house made paccheri with swordfish ragout, braised veal osso buco and handmade chocolate profiteroles with Chantilly cream. Following dessert, guests raised their glasses in a champagne toast to real estate developer Robert Radice, the evening’s guest of honor and a founding member of the PACE Board of Directors. Aggie Pappas, executive director of PACE Broward, praised his service to the organization and presented him with a gift made by some of the PACE girls.

The evening’s finale was a drawing for a four-night vacation package at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, which included dinner for four at Chef Elia’s Casa D’Angelo restaurant at the resort. The lucky winner: Jancie Jazayri. The annual event raised more than $64,000 for PACE Broward, which provides help and hope for at-risk girls.