Northampton Education Foundation’s 21st annual Adult Spelling Bee held Oct. 25 was an incredible success, thanks to our generous and engaged community! A night of fun and philanthropy featured teams of lively community members, creative costumes, and challenging yet entertaining words coming together to raise money for NEF’s Small Grants to Educators program.

Through this program, NEF proudly funds the development of creative and innovative teaching and learning initiatives in Northampton Public Schools and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.

We’re grateful to the community for raising nearly $14,000 for small grants. NEF’s Small Grants to Educators program has funded projects across content areas and grade levels ranging from anti-racism education to STEM initiatives to collaborative art installations. We are especially grateful to our spelling bee sponsors, who made this event possible. Please join us in thanking them.

Event sponsors: D.A. Sullivan & Sons, Friends of Marcia Burick, Greenfield Savings Bank, High Five Books, Fierst Bloomberg Ohm LLP Team Sponsors, A2Z Science & Learning Toy Store*, Apex Dental Associates of Florence*, Applied Mortgage, Broadside Bookshop, Chia Collins and Michael Cohen, Committee to Elect Marissa Elkins, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Endamian Stewart (candidate for School Committee Ward 4), Gage-Wiley & Co., Inc.*, Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Hawley Hooligans, Kevin and Sallie Deans Lake, Marisa Labozzetta & Martin Wohl*, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra Campaign Committee, Osaka Lunch Club, Paradise Copies, River Valley Co-op*, Royal Spellys, Tandem Bagel Co.*, The Dadz, The Lathrop Community, Northampton, the Law Office of Valerie Vignaux, Thornes Marketplace, UMass Five College Federal Credit Union*, Whalen Insurance, Wohl Family Dentistry.*

*Super Bee Sponsors supporting both the Spelling Bee and the spring Trivia Bee. Congratulations to The SPELLing BEES for buzzing their way to victory by correctly spelling “jelerang!” We’re grateful to WHMP and Northampton Open Media for broadcasting the bee. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and participated, and thank you for supporting our schools. We look forward to gathering again for next year’s bee.

Dale Melcher and Martin Wohl

Northampton Education Foundation
board co-presidents