Clarksville, TN – The 2025 Bee-lieve in Literacy: Adult Spelling Showdown brought lots of fun and laughter to the Custom House Museum’s Turner Auditorium, as hundreds came out to support the Imagination Library of Montgomery County in their efforts to raise much-needed funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Montgomery County.
Charlie Koon and Kimberly Wiggins were the hosts for the evening. They were joined on stage by this year’s judges – Lee Erwin, Retired Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett, and Janet Wilson. Organizers Julie Runyon and Michelle Newell welcomed everyone, laid out the rules, and called the first group of teams to the stage.
Kevin Kennedy and Lee Erwin immediately pledged donations and challenged others in the room to do the same. Teams representing Altra Federal Credit Union, CDE, Fortera Federal Credit Union, Keller Williams Realtors, Providence Builders, and others waged a friendly war of words, and in the end, the team from Spring Creek Pediatric Dentistry (aka the Bee-Cuspids) took home the trophy.
Newell said that this year’s Adult Spelling Showdown raised more than $40,000. “We want to thank all our sponsors, as well as the businesses and individuals who generously donated, and provided auction items. The money we raised will help Imagination Library provide books to approximately 10,000 children in our community for at least the next four months.”
Photo Gallery
