By Darragh Doiron

The News staff writer

“Bee” generous, “bee” cause of the kids.

With a big bee trophy in her van and “bee” puns on the tip of her tongue, Mary Ann Reid doesn’t mind if she runs the risk of “beeing” corny. She’s promoting the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce adult spelling bee.

Reid, chamber president, said the chamber has recruited teams of spellers who will gather Thursday to raise money for the Port Arthur Public School Foundation. Don’t bother trying to find out the words on the list, the teachers have them under wraps, she said.

Staffers are transforming coffee cans into bee cans to collect donations and house “immunity stings” and “spellebrities” are standing by now, Reid said.

This first-ever adult bee will help the foundation award grants for teacher projects. The bee is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the new Memorial High School, 3501 Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams Drive in Port Arthur. Memorial High School’s Project Graduation will be selling snacks and refreshments to raise funds for the Project Graduation program. Valero is the lead sponsor and teams are:

• Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

• CHRISTUS Hospital St. Mary

• Community Bank of Texas

• John Eric Lindell, CPA & Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

•  Office Depot

• Park Central Church of Christ

• The Port Arthur News

• Sempra Energy (sponsoring the Sabine Pass Independent School District)

• Texas Gas Service (sponsoring teachers from the Port Arthur Alternative Campus)

• Valero Port Arthur Refinery

Some folks may say they’re shy to spell in public, but others, like the Office Depot team, are coming off confident. Reid said the manager didn’t realize how my employees claimed to know their words.

The cost for businesses or organizations to sponsor a team is $250, or $500 for a team and added advertising considerations. The winning team will receive a trophy and bragging rights. Businesses or other groups can form teams or sponsor a team of teachers or bright students, Reid said.

Janet Cline is executive director of the foundation that presented $8,500 in grant funding for 14 teachers this October, and presented another $6,000 this spring.

“I’m hoping it will go really well,” Cline said, and reminded teams can purchase extra chances, and that celebrity spellers would be in the audience.

For information, call 963-1107.

ddoiron@panews.com