ELi to Hold Spelling Bee and Auction Fundraiser

Mark your calendars! ELi will be holding its first ever spelling bee and gift auction on Thursday, Dec. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at FieldHouse, located at 213 Ann St. in downtown East Lansing.

The event will kick off with a silent auction of items, including gift cards donated by businesses in our area. Several items may also be auctioned off as part of a live auction.

For those who have never been to a silent auction, here is how it works: The items being auctioned will be on display along with a bidding sheet that lists the starting bid. Write down your name and your offer, but make sure to circle back! Someone might swoop in and silently offer a higher bid.

As we finalize the items available, we will publish a list on our website and have copies available at the event, so you know which items you can wager on. For now, we can promise gift cards and a few neat items from local businesses!

As the silent auction is being held, you can walk around and meet the spelling bee competitors. They will be giving pitches as to why they are great candidates to win ELi’s first spelling bee! If you think a competitor gives a convincing pitch, you can contribute to their bucket.

We will then move on to holding the spelling bee portion of the event where some members of the ELi team will compete. So far, we have two confirmed teams: ELi’s podcast hosts Andrew Graham and Chuck Grigsby make up one team, and Managing Editor Emily Joan Elliott and Social Media Manager Heather Brothers another. Others have expressed interest in challenging these teams, and we are waiting to confirm.

As we work to get teams of two people together for the competition, we would love if you could sponsor a word or three to stump our competitors.

Do you have a tricky word in mind and want to support ELi during its Sustainability Campaign? Then click on this link and supply us with your word du jour! The recommended sponsorship price is $10 for one word or $25 for three words. Make sure to include the word before hitting the submission button.

Are you interested in attending to see which team wins or to bring home some cool auction items? Tickets are available now for a recommended donation of $15 per person. Click here, let us know how many tickets you are purchasing, and make your payment. Someone from the ELi team will then email you your tickets.

We understand that some members of the community may be hesitant to attend due to Covid-19, and we understand that. We also ask that you please do not come if you are unwell, feel uncomfortable around people who may be drinking and eating unmasked, and/or exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19.