Chappaqua Spelling Bee Raises More Than $15,000

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. – Costumed community members raised more than $15,000 for the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund Thursday night as part of the organization’s Second Annual Spelling Bee.

Forty four teams made up of residents, high school students, middle school students, teachers and faculty, competed in the 2011 bee to raise money for the scholarship fund. Many of the teams were sponsored with a $300 donation from local businesses.

“Tonight is a particular pleasure,” said David Perlmutter, HGSF’s president. “This fantastic event here has been organized by SHARE, keeping the tradition of students helping students.”

SHARE, or Students Have a Responsibility Everywhere, is a student-run, volunteer community service group. Horace Greeley students Dani Leventhal, Emily Burack and Anna Nagler were the primary organizers of the event.

“We can’t say enough about our student leaders,” said SHARE advisor Rebecca Mullen. “They’ve done an unbelievable job balancing the organization of this bee with college applications and homework and all of their other many involvements.”

Throughout the year, SHARE also organizes blood drives, food banks, midnight runs and other events. With the help of SHARE, HGSF was able to make grants totaling $168,000 to 29 students in 2010.

The night featured seven rounds of action, with the winner of each round taking home a prize. Winners included the Three Bees, who won a community round with “hyacinthine,” and the Purple Ladybugs, who won a middle school round with “privilege.” Those winners moved onto the championship round at the end of the night.

“A lot of people say that with the Internet and email and tweets and Twitters and all those things, that spelling is dead,” said Jeff Knisely, a teacher at Seven Bridges Middle School. “Well, I think that is dispelled here. Clearly, spelling is important in Chappaqua.”

 

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