BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS

Word warriors face off for literacy

Cherie Geiser, a volunteer with the Benton County Literacy Council, sorts through donated books before the
2017 Scrabble Wars. The 2018 Scrabble Wars benefit will be Jan. 27 at Four Points by Sheraton in Bentonville.
Cherie Geiser, a volunteer with the Benton County Literacy Council, sorts through donated books before the 2017 Scrabble Wars. The 2018 Scrabble Wars benefit will be Jan. 27 at Four Points by Sheraton in Bentonville.

Tiles will help pave the way to literacy at the Benton County Literacy Council’s 11th annual Scrabble Wars on Jan. 27 at Four Points by Sheraton.

Scrabble Wars

Who: Literacy Council of Benton County What: Silent auction, dinner, drinks, chance at Scrabble champ’s bragging rights When: 6 p.m. Jan. 27 Where: Four Points by Sheraton in Bentonville Tickets: $40 if purchased by Jan. 21 or $50 after; sponsorships are available Attire: Casual Information: (479) 273-3486 or goliteracy.org

Proceeds from the evening will help the group achieve its mission of increasing “adult English literacy by developing volunteer tutors to teach adult students to read and write English, because literacy changes lives.”

Literacy program offerings include adult basic literacy, English as a second language and tutor training. The group serves more than 200 adults annually and relies on trained volunteer tutors to do so. The council currently has some 45 tutors and approximately 75 students on a waiting list for an available tutor with a schedule that meshes with their work hours.

The next adult literacy tutor training is set from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the council office in Bentonville.

The word-based benefit will include a silent auction featuring author-autographed books, a buffet dinner, dessert, door prizes and the chance at bragging rights as the champion Scrabble team. Participants are encouraged to bring extra cash to “bribe” judges and purchase extra letters. Players may choose to compete with a “traditional” or “dubious” team.

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