Padua Academy's 2026 Spring Soiree

This spring Padua Academy invites our stakeholders -- current parents, alumnae, staff, parents of alumnae and donors -- to celebrate together at Padua Academy's 2026 Spring Soiree. This fundraising event, held on March 14 from 6pm to 10pm at the Deerfield Country Club, welcomes guests to an enchanting night inspired by moonlit shores, all in support of the mission of Padua Academy and the young women we serve.
 
In addition to good food and drink, this year's event will feature live music, a silent auction, and a short program to recognize our honorees.  All proceeds will benefit the Padua Academy Endowment.  A special thank you to the sponsors listed below.
 
Planning to attend and wondering what to wear? We encourage our guests to be inspired by the coastal charm and relaxed elegance of our moonlit Mediterranean theme!  

Meet Our Honorees

Pat Ciarrocchi

A Hall of Fame fixture in Philadelphia broadcasting and proud member of Padua Academy's Class of 1970, Pat Ciarrocchi spent 33 years as a premier anchor and storyteller at CBS Philadelphia. The first woman inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and a ten-time Emmy winner, Pat's career took her from the local anchor desk to the Vatican, where she covered three papacies and the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel. Known for her journalistic integrity, she concluded her broadcast career leading sixteen hours of live coverage for Pope Francis's 2015 visit to Philadelphia.

Pat's legacy is defined by her role as a humanitarian. She has been a steadfast advocate for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. In 2021, she bravely shared her personal journey through brain surgery to inspire and help others. Today, she continues her service as a board officer for Gaudenzia, Inc., assisting those with substance use disorders, and Mission Kids of Montgomery County, supporting victims of childhood abuse. For Pat, elevating the human spirit is not just a career highlight, but a lifelong way of seeing the world.

Dr. Gail Wynn

A trailblazer in metabolic and bariatric surgery, Dr. Wynn is the co-founder of the Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery (CHRIAS). Since her residency at Christiana Care, she and partner Dr. Isaias Irgau have expanded CHRIAS over 25 years into a premier seven-surgeon practice serving the Mid-Atlantic. A "Top Doc" honoree and Fellow of the ACS and ASMBS, Dr. Wynn also serves as Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, where she is a past President of the Medical Staff.

Driven by a passion for mentorship, she played a central role in the Padua Academy Medical Shadowing Program, which has inspired hundreds of young women over the past twelve years. Outside the operating room, Dr. Wynn is an elite athlete who has completed four IRONMAN triathlons and recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro. As a single mother of three, she balances a demanding career with a commitment to showing young women that any "impossible" goal is attainable through persistence.

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