FERST FOUNDATION SPELLING BEE CAIRO/GRADY COUNTY EMPLOYER COMMITTEE COMPETES WITH 11 OTHER TEAMS

Although it was the 2nd Annual Spelling Bee for “Ferst Foundation”, it was the First for the Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee Team.

With butterflies in our stomachs, Employer Committee Members, Marilyn Dollar, Debra Hancock and Joyce Hancock entered the arena with 11 other teams. As the words were called by the official “Caller” Dent Ward, teams collaborated with the word that was called to them.

It was tense, yet fun, knowing our efforts were helping raise money for children to get books in their hands for the first five years of their life. Grady County currently has over 800 children registered to receive books. The books come once a month for the first five years. The cost of one child is $35 per year.

The Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee made a donation of $250 to Ferst Foundation and entered the contest with willing hearts and shaking boots. The event was held in the historic “Zebulon Theatre”. This was a treat to the community as popcorn and cokes were served from the popcorn machine that is over 50 years old and makes the best popcorn around. Committee members breathed a sigh of relief at the conclusion of the event. We learned words that we never even heard of. We now have new words in our vocabulary…but can we spell them? Perhaps we will remember these words for next year’s competition.

Marilyn Dollar (L), Debra Hancock (C) and Joyce Hancock (R) – contestants in the 2nd Annual Ferst Foundation Spelling Bee, representing Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee

$250 check presented to Ferst Foundation Spelling Bee Coordinator, Martha Fowler, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction with Grady County Board of Education for Donation and Sponsorship by the Cairo/Grady County Employer Committee. Pictured L-R, Joyce Hancock, Dent Ward (Official Spelling Bee Caller), Martha Fowler, Debra Hancock and Marilyn Dollar.