EVENTS

Spelling Bee

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Test your spelling skills while supporting adult literacy!

Join us for the 36th First Literacy Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 26 at 6pm. This year the Spelling Bee will be held at J.P. Morgan located at 70 Fargo Street in Boston. During the Spelling Bee swarms of spellers will compete by spelling words sure to stump even the savviest of spellers. Anyone can form a team. Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and put your spelling skills to the test—all in support of adult literacy. A minimum tax-deductible sponsorship of $5,000 funds a team of three.

Commit to sponsoring and forming a Bee team by February 27, 2026 and your team will be guaranteed a spot in the first round of pre-recorded play. Teams that commit after February 27 will have a chance to participate in the lightning round at the in-person event but will miss the first round of competitive play. If you are interested in sponsorship or forming a Bee team contact Ophelia Navarro at onavarro@firstliteracy.org.

Proceeds from the event support First Literacy’s work including: free professional development workshops for adult educators, scholarships for adult students attending college or vocational programs, and grants for innovative Adult Basic Education pilot programs.

Thank You to Our Host Committee

Thank You to Our Bee Committee

Karime Abdel-Hay | Co-Chair
Corey Groves | Co-Chair
Jeffrey Beale
Lindsay Bishop
Lawrence L. Fahey
Nilan Jayasinghe
Jenna Kline

Check out the video below to view the first round of pre-recorded play from the 2025 Spelling Bee. The teams who did not advance to the finals participated in the lightning round during the in person event for a chance to take the wildcard spots in the championship round.