Read To Succeed announced the 2019 Celebrity Spelling Bee will be held Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Grove at Williamson Place.
The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a selection of food and drink from Slick Pig.
Opening remarks begin at 6:30 with speakers including Jolene Radnoti – Executive Director at Read To Succeed, Crystal Routon – Rutherford County Chamber Diplomat, and a Live Auction lead by 2017 Miss MTSU Kristen Perry, Lewis Perry and Gaylon Perry.
As the only fundraiser for Read To Succeed, the night’s success is important to the success of the nonprofit, Radnoti said. “We know that the growth projection for Rutherford County states that we will grow to 55% in the next 20 years. As we continue to grow, the factors we are currently dealing with; affordable housing, hunger, poor health and low literacy skills will also increase. Currently children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. As this occurs, the children are more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, and either repeat grades or drop out of school entirely. Seeing the rapid growth in our community combined with adults struggling with literacy starts a cycle. Read To Succeed wants to reduce that number throughout the county to provide all individuals with the opportunities, personal growth, and stability that literacy provides. Since all of our services are free, we rely on donations from corporate gifts, philanthropic foundations, and individuals to fulfill our mission. Every dollar counts.”
The Bee’s slogan is, “If a local celebrity is willing to risk public humiliation, it must be important.”
Celebrities from across the community are brushing up on their spelling getting ready for the event. Spellers will have the opportunity to meet one another at a pre-bee luncheon hosted by Marina’s on the Square.
The 2019 roster of celebrity spellers includes community leaders from a vast array of fields and specialties including radio personalities, attorneys, financial representatives, real estate brokers and agents, engineers, event planner and local business owners. The celebrity spellers will take the stage at 7 p.m., following the announcement of the 2019 One Book, the community read selected by a committee at Read To Succeed. The selected book will then be available for purchase.
Community support was so great last year that the event sold out and seating is limited again this year. Tickets are $50/person and are available online at readtosucceed.org.
Even if the event sells out there are always opportunities to support the organization. “Literacy in our community affects us all and there are many ways to help Read To Succeed. We are constantly in need of new tutors, both basic English and English as a Second Language, as well as Family Literacy volunteers and donations of gently used books. We would like everyone to be involved with Read To Succeed and promote literacy,” Radnoti said.
All ticket sales, One Book sales, and one-site purchases such as the live auction and cash bar go directly to support the mission of Read To Succeed.
Sponsorships in forms of direct monetary donations and items for the live auction are still being accepted. Contact Read To Succeed directly at 615-738-READ (7323) for information.