CLE BEE 9 Recap

The evening kicked off with a lively cocktail hour, followed by a warm welcome from Board Chair Julie Crocker. To launch the spelling competition, TLC President & CEO, Bob Paponetti, took the stage, emphasizing the importance of literacy and the organization’s key initiatives. He shared a video of testimonials from families enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which you can view here, emphasizing the program’s role in establishing the foundation for early childhood success.

Emcee Mike McIntyre, along with Judge John Russo and word readers Jon Doss and Mike Snyder, kept the energy high during the bee. The spelling bee featured fierce competition and challenging words, showcasing each team’s impressive spelling skills.

“The Literacy Cooperative’s CLE Bee is a lot of fun! Literacy is crucial for both our youth and adults, which is why my team at Clever Girl Marketing is thrilled to be a part of this event in support of The Literacy Cooperative’s important work,” Maura Del Rosario, Marketing and Production Coordinator at Clever Girl Marketing.

After 9 years of competing, the coveted title of CLE Bee 9 champion was awarded to Cuyahoga Community College, with their winning word being “sesquipedalian.” Congratulations to Jones Day, First Federal of Lakewood, and News 5 for placing in the top 4 of the competition.

A special thanks to:

• Our sponsors for their generous support of literacy and the CLE Bee.
• Mike Snyder, Jon Doss, John Russo, and Mike McIntyre – your humor and dedication added so much to the night.
• Our competitors – your energy and spirit were fantastic!
• Our volunteers for ensuring everything ran so smoothly.
• Our guests for being such enthusiastic cheerleaders.

Didn’t get a chance to donate in honor of CLE Bee 9? There’s still time to make a difference: literacycooperative.org/beedonate. Your contribution is greatly appreciated!