CLE BEE 11 Recap
The Literacy Cooperative hosted its 11th annual CLE Bee on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Windows on the River, bringing together teams, supporters, and literacy champions for an unforgettable evening of spelling, celebration, and community.
The evening began with remarks from Bob Paponetti, President & CEO of The Literacy Cooperative, who welcomed guests and thanked the sponsors, teams, volunteers, and community members who make CLE Bee possible. Bob also honored the life and legacy of Dolly Parton with a special video celebrating her extraordinary commitment to putting books into the hands of children.
On the competition floor, Emcee Mike McIntyre, Judge John Russo, and word readers Jon Doss and Mike Snyder kept the energy high as teams battled through challenging words. The competition was spirited, the words were tough, and the crowd was fully engaged.
Guests also enjoyed celebrity word pronouncement videos featuring Alek, an Imagination Library enrollee, Craig Hassall from Playhouse Square, Kelly Lamirand from KeyBank, and Dr. Rita Pappas from Cleveland Clinic.
After an exciting competition, Cuyahoga Community College took home the trophy with the winning word, Brobdingnagian!
A special thank you to our Hive Sponsors, Huntington Bank and Dick Pogue, for their generous support of CLE Bee 11 and their commitment to literacy in our community.
We also extend our gratitude 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!
Our Teams: For bringing fantastic spirit, fun, and good sportsmanship to the competition.
Our Volunteers: For the outstanding commitment that helped the entire event run seamlessly.
Our Guests: For cheering on the teams, participating in the spelling bee app, and celebrating literacy with us.
DPIL Families: For creating artwork for our program book in honor of Dolly Parton!
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Teams at CLE Bee 11
