IPEI brings in $25,000 from annual spelling bee fundraiser

Tompkins Weekly Staff

 

S-U-C-C-E-S-S is what the Ithaca Public Education Initiative is saying after last week’s annual adult spelling bee fundraiser brought in over $25,000 from individual and organizational donations and a silent auction. The money will go toward funding IPEI grant programs.

Ithaca High School Bee-T-A, sponsored by the IHS Parent Teacher Association, took home the Fuzzy Bee trophy when it successfully spelled ‘Novillero,’ which means ‘aspiring bullfighter who has not yet attained the rank of matador.’ The runner up team, We Spell Krazy Good, was sponsored by WSKG.

The event consisted of four rounds of spelling, producing one winning team each round. Each winning team took home a prize of small jars of honey from Gil’s Honeybees. But teams were also awarded prizes for “Best Costumes” in each round and were awarded prizes from Purity Ice Cream.

The Bee is the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI)’s signature fundraising event raising funds for IPEI grants for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) teachers and staff. Last year, IPEI funded over $50,000 in projects and programs, and has already funded $50,000 in 2017-18.

IPEI is a community-based not-for- profit 501(c)(3) organization that develops supportive community and private sector relationships with the ICSD. Founded in 1996, IPEI is committed to connecting school and community through collaboration, engagement, gifts and grants. For more information, see ipei.org.