Literacy Volunteers of Schoharie County are combining fun with fundraising in an event next month.
LVSC is hosting a SCRABBLE tournament with the goal of raising cash for the literacy program and for top SCRABBLE players.
Set for March 21 at Radez School in Richmondville, the tournament will offer cash prizes to the top three winning teams.
Literacy Volunteers has more than 30 trained volunteer tutors who teach adults one-on-one in basic literacy skills or help them prepare for high school equivalency diplomas.
The literacy programs are free.
LVSC has only two paid employees, a small office and few supplies, so the budget is small. But LVSC depends on state funds, which have been cut nearly 16 percent for 2008-09, according to Executive Director Lisa Cardilli.
And, Ms. Cardilli added, the state budget crunch is likely to persist for several years.
“It is clear that in order to survive, we had to diversify our funding base,” she said. “Fundraising efforts simply had to increase.”
She also pointed out that because of the recession, there’s a greater demand for literacy services that give students a better chance to land a job.
A fundraising SCRABBLE tournament is a natural, Ms. Cardilli said, because the game is linked to vocabulary-building and reading––literacy, in other words.
“We wanted to host a fundraising vehicle that not only motivates volunteers but also calls attention to this very important issue,” she said.
“And we wanted to host an event that is accessible to everyone and fun.”
Radez School Principal Brian Dineen will be the emcee for the SCRABBLE tournament, which will start at 9am.
Four-person teams, age 16 and older, will compete in several games. The per-team entry fee is $100.
Besides the cash prizes for the top teams, there will be other prizes and gifts for the players.
Many area businesses have signed on as sponsors of the tournament, and most will field teams.
“But the tournament’s open to everyone,” said LVSC board member Jim Poole. “We’re hoping teams can challenge each other in a friendly way for a good cause––and a chance to win.”
Anyone interested in entering a team or helping to sponsor the tournament should call Ms. Cardilli at 234-2576.