For immediate release
October 19, 2011
CHARLESTON- The Emmett Robinson Theatre resonated with the noisy exuberance of fans cheering for their teams at the LifeManagement Center (LMC) Corporate Spelling Bee on Tuesday the 18th. A bearded man in a bee suit roamed the stage as Mayor Joseph P. Riley opened the event and introduced the other spelling bee officials, including Master of Ceremonies Judge Alex Sanders, Word Reader Elsa McDowell of The Post and Courier, and Judges economist Mallory Factor, educator J. Douglas Gepford, and City of Charleston Councilmember Kathleen Wilson. A team of three teachers representing Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville beat nine other teams from local businesses, schools, and community groups with the winning word “variscite”. The Porter-Gaud School faculty team won the team spirit award and was the first-runner up. The event raised over $10,000 to support LifeManagement Center’s literacy outreach programs in public schools and provide scholarships for children to participate in intensive reading programs at LMC’s learning centers.
Stuart McMullan, Elizabeth Martin, Bee the Bee for Literacy volunteer Paul Griffin, and Elizabeth Kauffman display the Pinewood Prep faculty's winning trophies.
Other teams included Between the Lines Book Club of Kiawah Island, Charleston School of Law, The Citadel, College of Charleston, Elliott Davis, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, and PURE Insurance. Children's Dentistry sponsored Porter-Gaud School faculty, Maybank Properties sponsored the Charleston County Public Library team, and Summerville Pediatrics sponsored the winning Pinewood Preparatory School faculty team. Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice served as a Corporate Sponsor, with The Post and Courier and Charleston Magazine serving as media sponsors.
LifeManagement Center’s literacy programs include the Reading REWARDS program, which is provided free of charge to Charleston County public school students. The research-validated REWARDS program is used nationally and is ideal for 5th-8th grade students who have at least second grade reading skills, but struggle to comprehend their textbooks. Over 320 students have participated in the program since 2007 in participating schools, including Fort Johnson, Cario, St. Andrew’s, West Ashley, and James Island Middle Schools, Memminger, Whitesides, Hursey, and Mitchell Elementary Schools, Charlestowne Academy and Military Magnet Academy.
The crowd cheers for favorite teams, competing for the Team Spirit Award at LifeManagement Center's Corporate Spelling Bee.
LifeManagement Center is a South Carolina-based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that offers solutions to transform educational and professional challenges into life achievements for children, families, adults, and communities. Its services include consultations, psycho-educational assessments, tutoring, coaching, counseling for parents, and workshops. LMC has offices in Charleston, Summerville and Mt. Pleasant and can be reached at (843) 852-5705 or www.lifemanagement.org.
