CLE BEE 10 Recap

The Literacy Cooperative celebrated a decade of dedication at the 10th annual CLE Bee, uniting competitors to battle over words and fund the lifelong success that literacy guarantees. Held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at Windows on the River, this milestone event was more than a competition, it was an electrifying celebration of community spirit and unwavering passion.

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The evening began with a lively cocktail hour, setting a tone of excitement and camaraderie among the teams and guests. Board Chair Craig Dorn kicked off the main program with a warm welcome, emphasizing the collective impact of everyone in the room and introduced a video montage of the best memories from every CLE Bee since 2016. Watch it here! Bob Paponetti, President & CEO of The Literacy Cooperative, took the stage sharing Cuyahoga County’s troubling early literacy statistics and the organization’s solutions to address low literacy.

The competition floor was electric, thanks to Emcee Mike McIntyre, Judge John Russo, and word readers Jon Doss and Mike Snyder. They kept the energy high as teams battled it out over challenging words.

The heart of the evening was found in the powerful testimonials by Tomika Johnson and Carole Beaty who underscored the life-changing impact of support for The Literacy Cooperative’s initiatives. Tomika Johnson, a parent of Imagination Library alumni, Juanye, shared how the books transformed her son, ig

niting a shared love of reading that has inspired their entire family’s commitment to continued education and personal growth. Board Member Carole Beaty shared a testament to the profound importance of having books in the home.

The CLE Bee 10 trophy was awarded to Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Their winning word, “solecistic,” secured their victory. Congratulations also to Lubrizol, News 5, and Cleveland Magazine for placing in the top 4 and making the final round so thrilling.

This landmark 10th anniversary would not have been the spectacular success it was without the incredible support of our community. A heartfelt thank you to:

  • Our Sponsors: For the support that made this incredible evening possible.
  • Mike Snyder, Jon Doss, Judge John Russo, and Mike McIntyre: For the energy and expertise that kept the competition buzzing!
  • The Teams: For bringing fantastic spirit, fun, and good sportsmanship.
  • Our Volunteers: For the outstanding commitment that ensured the entire event flowed seamlessly.
  • Our Guests: For being great cheerleaders!

Didn’t get a chance to donate in honor of CLE Bee 10? There’s still time to make a difference in the lives of children and adults in our community: www.literacycooperative.org/beedonate

Thank you to our sponsors & teams at CLE Bee 10:

Lubrizol, Cleveland-Cliffs, Huntington Bank, Benesch, The Centers, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Magazine, Cleveland State University, College Now, Corrigan Krause, Cuyahoga Community College, Delta Sigma Theta, DMS Management Solutions, First Federal Lakewood, Friends of Literacy, Jones Day, KeyBank, Margaret W. Wong and Associates, News 5, PNC Bank, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Sally Brocious, Starting Point and Youth Opportunities Unlimited.