Literacy Council Spelling Bee will be held Friday
The Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties 23rd Annual Spelling Bee takes place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Silver Moon on Broad. Tickets to the event are $20 and area available at the Literacy Council office, 600 Walnut, Texarkana, Ark., or at the door the night of the event.
The public is invited to attend and watch local corporate teams battle it out to take home the Spelling Bee trophy.
“What makes it fun is everyone working together to solve a problem,” said Richard Seymour, Literacy Council executive director. “It automatically breeds excitement and fun when you have a friendly competition between teams.”
On average there are between 12 and 16 teams competing.
The agency's goal is to bring in $25,000 with this event to support its programs.
“This is that one big fundraiser that helps you shore up your annual budget,” Seymour said. “Non-profits write grants throughout the year but grants are never a given. A good fundraiser for any non-profit is something you can rely on.”
The Literacy Council offers a few programs to the community including teaching people to read, financial and digital literacy, English-as-a-Second-Language and teaching workplace skills to ready its clients to enter the workforce or to find a better job.'
“We teach people how to act responsible when it comes to having a job, how to treat coworkers or their boss and certain elements it takes to be a good employee,” Seymour said. “Our main objective is to help people seeking a GED bridge t secondary education or get a career. Many times it's both.”
The Literacy Council is able to use money raised with the Spelling Bee to leverage funds back into the community.
“Every dollar the Literacy Council raises throughout the year … generates $7 back into the community,” Seymour said.
Seymour encourages people to come support the Literacy Council's efforts.
“To me the Spelling Bee combines community and philanthropy with corporate team-building. … Anyone who wants to come out is welcome. We have something for everyone.”