The Adult Literacy League (Website) will host its inaugural City BEEautiful Spelling Bee fundraiser on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Orlando Science Center, with Orlando Shine Show co-hosts Jon Busdeker and Brendan O’Connor emceeing the competition.
Fifteen sponsor teams of eight spellers each, representing local businesses and friends of the organization, will compete using a shared device connected to the game-based platform Kahoot (Website), with results projected on screens around the venue. Participating teams include Bank of America, Blaine McChesney Law, Burr & Forman, Cogent Bank, Massey Services, Nardella & Nardella, Orlando Health, Orlando Magic, OUC, Seacoast Bank and Westgate Resorts, among others.
The evening will open with a barbecue buffet from 4 Rivers Smokehouse (Website), along with desserts donated by Olde Hearth Bread Co., Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, and Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. A silent auction running throughout the night will feature theme park tickets to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, Orlando Magic lower bowl tickets with a signed Paolo Banchero jersey and photo, a Westgate Resorts stay, restaurant gift cards, and a signed 1997 note from Mister Rogers. Audience members can also purchase “Help the Hive” tokens to support individual teams during the competition.
The Adult Literacy League was founded by volunteers in 1968 and now provides one-to-one tutoring and classes to nearly 1,500 adults each year in reading, writing, citizenship, job skills, and other areas. As part of the program, one of the league’s Ukrainian students will share her story of arriving in the United States and learning English.
Guest tickets are $75 and include a barbecue dinner, bottomless beer and wine, and other beverages, with proceeds supporting Adult Literacy League programs and services, according to the official press release. Tickets are available by calling 407-422-1540 or through the event page HERE.
