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Picture business men and women dressed in silly costumes, teaming up to speed-spell words like “accessorize” and “xenolith.” It can be quite entertaining! This is exactly what will happen on March 18, 2010, at the 17th Annual Bee Dazzling Spellebration, a fundraiser for the Literacy Center of West Michigan. The event will take place at Noto’s Old World Restaurant and will include a celebration of the accomplishments of students, tutors, and community leaders who have helped make the Literacy Center’s programming possible.
While the spelling bee is hugely entertaining, the success stories of the Literacy Center’s adult learners are at the heart of the evening’s festivities. Additionally, theLiteracy Center will recognize the accomplishments of the community members who have contributed to, or benefited from, its programs. This year’s community awards will go to the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America, to Bill and Janice Currie, and to Leprino Foods. Students and tutors who will be honored for their hard workinclude Don Jackson, Delores Mitchell, Alejandro Sosa, Rita Ambriz DeMondragon, and the family ofMario Ramirez and Yolanda Parada.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan has helped thousands of adults improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills—during the last year alone, over 1,300 people were served through its Adult Tutoring, Family Literacy, and Customized Workplace English programs. Now more than ever, the work of the Literacy Center is needed: 21% of adults in Grand Rapids, and 14% of adults in Kent County, are reading below the ninth-grade reading level; 14% of children entering kindergarten in Grand Rapids Public Schools are lacking pre-reading skills; and at least 60% of students entering community colleges require remediation.
You can help the Literacy Center of West Michigan build a literate community by attending the Bee Dazzling Spellebration on March 18, 2010, at Noto’s Old World Restaurant. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by awards and the spelling bee. Tickets are just $35. To RSVP, or for more information, contact Kate Rehmus at the Literacy Center of West Michigan at (616) 459-5151 ext. 24, or [email protected].
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