Spelling Bee
Test your spelling skills while supporting adult literacy!
Join us for the 35th First Literacy Spelling Bee at the State Street Channel Center in Boston on Thursday, April 3 at 6pm. During the Spelling Bee swarms of spellers will compete by spelling words sure to stump even the savviest of spellers. Anyone who would like to form a spelling team can do so. A minimum tax-deductible sponsorship of $5,000 funds a team of three – corporations, a group of family or friends, book groups, church groups, or any community groups that are interested in helping an organization that serves adult learners, teachers, and recent immigrants.
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.
Check out the video below to view the first round of pre-recorded play from the 2024 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.
Thank You to Our Host Committee
Josh Binswanger
Rebecca Chasen | Deloitte
Rob Chesley | Truist
Deb Gould | Newmark
Eric Kayne | Morgan Stanley
Geraldine Lippman and Carlos Pinto | Equiniti
Ryan Murphy | UBS
Matthew Nicholls | Franklin Templeton
Sonia Chaliha | BNY Mellon
Keith Slattery | JP Morgan
Margarheeta C. Wise | MFS
Thank You to Our Bee Committee
Karime Abdel-Hay | Co-Chair
Jeffrey Beale
Corey Groves | Co-Chair
Nilan Jayasinghe
Jenna Kline
Commit to sponsoring and forming a Bee team by March 12, 2025 and your team will be guaranteed a spot in the first round of pre-recorded play. Teams that commit after March 12 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 Amy Letteney at aletteney@firstliteracy.org.
2025 SPONSORS TO DATE
- Brookline Bank
- Fahey Family Charitable Fund
- Franklin Templeton
- MFS Investment Management
- In Honor of Karen Morrissey
- Peabody Essex Museum
- UBS
BEE TEAM SPONSOR LEVELS
Frederick Douglass – $50,000
- Verbal recognition during the event and prominent listing on event signage
- Two Bee teams of three individuals to compete
- Thirty Bee tickets
- Prominent listing on the First Literacy website, event emails, social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Logo or team name prominently featured in advertising and promotional materials
- Listing in our Annual Report
Ralph Waldo Emerson – $25,000
- Verbal recognition during the event and name listed on event signage
- One Bee Team of three individuals to compete
- Twenty Bee tickets
- Prominent listing on the First Literacy website, event emails, social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Logo or team name prominently featured in advertising and promotional materials
- Listing in our Annual Report
Emily Dickinson – $15,000
- One Bee team of three individuals to compete
- Ten Bee tickets
- Prominent listing on the First Literacy website, event emails, social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Logo or team name prominently featured throughout the event
- Listing in our Annual Report
Henry David Thoreau – $10,000
- One Bee team of three individuals to compete
- Eight Bee tickets
- Prominent listing on the First Literacy website, event emails, social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Logo or team name prominently featured throughout the event
- Listing in our Annual Report
Louisa May Alcott – $5,000
- One Bee team of three individuals to compete
- Five Bee tickets
- Listing on the First Literacy website, event emails, social media posts, press releases, and print advertising
- Logo or team name prominently featured throughout the event
- Listing in our Annual Report
OTHER SPONSOR LEVELS
Advocate – $3,500
- Three Bee tickets
- Logo or name featured throughout the event
- Listing in our Annual Report
Supporter – $1,500
- Two Bee tickets
- Logo or name featured throughout the event
- Listing in our Annual Report