Relive the excitement here! (Event begins at the 13:57 mark)

Join Center for Literacy and Community Learning Center at our first livestreamed virtual spelling bee hosted by the creators of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Become a sponsor, compete as a team, or cheer from the virtual crowd at this one of a kind event packed with non-stop laughter, suspense, and obscure vocabulary!

PLUS, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUR SWEET ANNOUNCEMENT - SURE TO BE THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN!

This exciting virtual event is hosted by two veterans in improv and comedy, making this far from a typical spelling bee. Rebecca Feldman, who plays host Barbara Weingust, helped develop the Tony Award-winning play, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Jay Reiss appeared in the first Broadway production and reprises his role as Vice Principal Douglas Panch. They transformed the format of a zany spelling bee as a fundraising concept and due to COVID, have made the transition to an all-Zoom production. This enables team members – and enthusiastic viewers - to watch and compete from anywhere.

Featuring Special Guests & Celebrity Spellers: 

Gisele Barreto Fetterman, Brazilian-American activist, philanthropist, non-profit executive, and current Second Lady of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The Second Lady of Pennsylvania- lovingly nicknamed SLOP- is the founder of Free Store 15104, and co-founder of For Good PGH. She has spent most of her adult life in the United States helping others, whether they're impoverished, immigrants, LGBT, minorities, imprisoned or hungry.

Charlotte Blake Alston, Nationally acclaimed storyteller, narrator, instrumentalist, librettist and singer

Charlotte is an internationally acclaimed Storyteller committed to keeping alive African and African American oral storytelling traditions. Over the last 30 years, Charlotte has graced symphony stages as a concert host and narrator and the 2020-2021 season marks her 30th consecutive season as a guest artist with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Scott Greer, Renowned Local Actor

Scott is one of Philadelphia’s busiest and most popular actors. He excels in both comedy and drama and has won three Barrymore Awards, the local equivalent of Broadway’s Tonys.

Helen Gym, Philadelphia Councilmember At-large

Seated in 2016, Philadelphia City Councilmember Helen Gym leads a human rights agenda which measures outcomes based on the health and well-being of young people in the city. She is Councils first Asian-American female member and was the top vote-getter in 56 of Philly’s 66 wards in 2019.

Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO)

Sharon Pinkenson has successfully elevated the GPFO from a little-known permit office to one of the most well-respected film commissions in the industry. This ambitious one-time wardrobe stylist has helped transform her hometown into the movie metropolis she always knew it could be.

Ronnie Polaneczky, Editor of the UpSide, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and award-winning columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News

Ronnie is a writer, public speaker and believes in The Power of Deliberate Listening. She was a beloved and award-winning columnist for The Philadelphia Daily News for many years, and is presently the editor of The UpSide, the good-news section in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer.

HOSTED BY:

MEET OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

BEE a part of the FUN by creating a team or becoming a sponsor! 

Contact Amanda Bates [email protected] for more information or Click here for Sponsorship and Team opportunities.