This event is a major fundraiser for the Literacy Council, the area agency which provides adults with individual Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language instruction. This year’s fundraising goal is $36,000. Contestants in the Bee are in teams of three adults each, including representatives of Buncombe County organizations and businesses, who will compete for prizes and bragging rights.

Teams already registered for this year’s Bee include Asheville City Schools, Phi Theta Kappa, Asheville Speech Associates, The Givens Estates, A-B Tech, MAHEC, The Mountain Xpress, and Buncombe County Schools, Beaver Dam Run Book Club, Smith Barney.

Tickets will cost $5.00 at the door and will include entrance to win door prizes donated from a variety of local businesses in Asheville. Additional funds are raised through corporate and individual sponsors, who receive recognition on all Bee publicity materials. There will also be an opportunity for spectators to make donations in the name of their favorite team.

The Spelling Bee is hosted by Altrusa International of Asheville in conjunction with the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. Through the years, with the support of the business community and the general public of Buncombe County, the Spelling Bee has raised over $110,000 for adult literacy.

Come watch at the Laurel Auditorium at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 29th, as some of Asheville’s bravest try their hands at spelling some of the hardest words in the English language! Make literacy happen!

The Mission of the Literacy Council of Buncombe County is to promote increased adult literacy in Buncombe County through effective use of trained tutors; to provide support services for tutors and learners; and to collaborate with individuals, groups, or other community organizations desiring to foster increased adult literacy. For more information, visit http://www.litcouncil.com/.