Corporate spelling bee raises money for good cause

By Brittany Whitley

Published: July 25, 2008

Local organizations gathered Friday to raise money for the Lee County Literacy Coalition (LCLC) and to test their spelling skills in the fifth annual Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) Corporate Spelling Bee at Lee-Scott Academy.

The literacy coalition team, consisting of three of the charity’s tutors, won.

“Hey, the money goes to a good cause,” Jessica Nelson, a team member, said.

“We’re really grateful we didn’t have to use our last mulligan,” tutor Jim Phillips said.

“Some (words) were exceedingly hard and others were amazingly easy,” Bernice Fischman, another team member, said.

Last year, the event raised $5,300, said Pam Power-Smith, chairperson of the spelling bee.

“This year I’m hoping for between $6,000 and $7,000,” she said.

PRCA exceeded that, raising more than $7,425. The funds go to support adult literacy.

Teams of three were given one mulligan, or pass. Teams could buy other teams’ mulligans when they were eliminated.

Winners receive a trophy that stays with them until the next year’s bee.