Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:31 am

Read to Succeed has chosen the 2009 Celebrity Spellers for the Read to Bee. Each year Read To Succeed brings to the stage Rutherford County celebrities with the motto: “If these folks are willing to be humiliated by spelling in public, literacy must be important.”

The celebrity spelling bee will be held Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Patterson Park Community Center.

Master Of Ceremonies is Steve Waldron. Judging the bee are Steve Daniels, Larry Brandon and Elizabeth Church. Celebrity Spellers are: Kelly Holcomb, Mark Pirtle, John Rodgers, Rob Lyons, Ginny Williams, Gloria Bonner, Angie Boyd-Chambers, Angela Floyd, George Lien, Mark Sims, Ralph Vaughn, Vincent Windrow, Melinda Hudgins, Lori Sain Smith and Sydney McPhee

Back popular demand, the “Celebrity Buzz” dinner returns from year one with Romano’s Macaroni Grill. Donation for ticket to Dinner (6 pm) and Bee (7:30) is $50. A ticket to the Celebrity Bee only is $25. Attire: Jeans to sequins. All spellers will be at the dinner with additional possible dinner guest: David Price.

Last year, RTS raised more than $20,000 for literacy. 2007’s celebrity spelling bee brought in more than $17,000. To make a donation honoring your favorite Celebrity Speller or purchase tickets please send your check to: Read To Succeed • P.O. Box 12161 • Murfreesboro, TN, 37129 or use secure Paypal at www.readtosucceed.org

Read To Succeed is proud of its many programs including Reading in the Schools Day, Reading Rally, Express Yourself High School Arts Conference, One Book Community Read, UNPLUG & Read, Imagination Station, Families That Read, Succeed, Read To Bee, and the Read To Succeed Adult Literacy tutoring program.

Please visit www.readtosucceed for more information or to volunteer. Literacy Matters! Read To Succeed, the community literacy collaborative in Rutherford County, will promote reading, with an emphasis on family literacy. This non-profit initiative supports literacy programs and fosters awareness of the importance of reading. The Read To Succeed Adult Literacy Program will address the basic literacy needs of adults in Rutherford County who want to develop their skills for personal and/or career development.