Fundraising
Each year, AAUW/Logan County tries to do at least one fundraiser to provide scholarships and support for local educational programs and students. In its 28 year history, the branch has raised more than $45,000 toward this goal. Fundraisers have included holiday auctions, book sales, and a cruise raffle among other events. The most successful--the Benefit Bee for Education--continues today. The branch co-sponsors the Bee with the Bellefontaine Examiner.
Each year, AAUW/Logan County tries to do at least one fundraiser to provide scholarships and support for local educational programs and students. In its 28 year history, the branch has raised more than $45,000 toward this goal. Fundraisers have included holiday auctions, book sales, and a cruise raffle among other events. The most successful--the Benefit Bee for Education--continues today. The branch co-sponsors the Bee with the Bellefontaine Examiner.
The Benefit Bee for Education celebrated its ninth anniversary in March 2006. Businesses and organizations in the county form teams of three adults who compete in an old fashioned spelling bee. Teams are given a word and a minute to confer; then one of the team members spells the word aloud. One team remains at the end of the evening. Last year, about 33 teams competed for the bragging rights of being the "best spellers in Logan County!"
The first Bee was launched in 1998 when several AAUW/Logan County members were searching for a new fundraising idea. Martha O'Connor was branch president at the time, and Peggy Dishop was branch Educational Foundation Chair. The committee decided early on that media sponsorship was critical to the success of the endeavor. O'Connor is employed by the local newspaper, the Bellefontaine Examiner, and so it fell to her to seek the Examiner's support. The newspaper looked at the event as a community project and eagerly agreed to co-sponsor. In effect, that meant that the newspaper promoted the event through advertising and news articles while the AAUW/Logan County committee did the organizational work.
Last year's bee revamped from a spelling to a TRIVIA bee. AAUW/Logan County challenges teams to brush up on current events and quirky information. Proceeds from the Benefit Trivia Bee support several educational endeavors including a scholarship for one local middle school girl to attend Camp GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Science and Math) at Ohio Northern University. Remaining funds will be divided between the AAUW Logan County General Fund, the AAUW Education Foundation, and the Logan County Education Foundation.