“No matter what the economic climate, this community is still dedicated to helping out those who need it,” says Lisa Mitchell, Executive Director of local literacy non-profit Read To Succeed. “That’s what amazes me each year: more and more, people are realizing just how key of an issue literacy is to our county’s success.”

WGNS' Bart Walker reminded listeners... 

More than $51,000 has been raised for Read To Succeed’s annual fundraiser, the Celebrity Bee, which is TONIGHT (Tuesday, Nov. 13). Bee Sponsorship Co-Chair Shawn McFarland says that the Bee is getting close to reaching its goal for funding. Funds from the Bee stay 100% in Rutherford County and support  Read To Succeed’s adult tutoring program, in-school family literacy programs, ESL classes, and dozens of other events in the community aimed at promoting reading.

Local law firm Kious, Rodgers, Barger, Holder and Kious, PLLC and Nissan North America, Inc. have each donated $5,000 to the Celebrity Bee, funds that will support and help expand Read To Succeed’s family and adult literacy programs for the next year.

Donors at the $2,500 level include the Adams-Coggin Family Foundation, AT&T, Jennings & Rebecca Jones Foundation, Adams Family Foundation, Lamar Advertising, and Steve and Lara Daniels.    

$1,000 and under donors include Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Andy Womack (State Farm), Middle Tennessee Medical Center, the Daily News Journal /Gannett Foundation, State Farm, TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, Colonial Pipeline, MidSouth Bank, Health Services Management, Inc., Dr. Liz Rhea, Ingram Content Group and Joe and Judy Powell.

$500 donors include Drew Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert McCullough, the LaRoche Family Foundation, Ernest and Peggy Burgess, The Rogers Group, Andrew and Lisa Mitchell, Demos’ Restaurant, Brian and Kirsten Coleman, Bud’s Tire Pros, Financial Services and Solutions, Inc, John Barton, Jr. and the First National Bank of McMinnville.

$250 donors include WGNS Radio, Utpal and Tina Patel, Britt and Jan Mioton, A Renovation LLC, Smyrna Rotary Club, LaVergne Rotary Club, Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club, Noon Rotary Club, Edward and Victoria Jo Eastham, Mid-State Surgery - Leslie & Mark Akins, Joachim and Emily Zietz, Dempsey Vantrease & Follis PLLC, Ivan and Nancy Duggin, James Beach and Shervondalonn Brown, Middle TN Emergency Physicians, Chancellor Robert E. Corlew, Inside Sports—Jeff Jordan, Beverley Hamblin, Joe and Ronni Shaw, Bill and Rita Shacklett, Shawn and Bette McFarland, Reeves-Sain Family Medical Services, Rick and Charlotte Swafford, Pat McHale, Chantho and Bounnheng Sourinho, Wild About Smiles –Pediatric Dentistry, and John Murray and Elizabeth LaRoche.

“The Celebrity Bee is Read to Succeeds primary fundraising opportunity for the year,” McFarland says. “With these funds, we can truly change someone’s life by giving the best tool one can have: the ability to read.  Our sponsors recognize that RTS is making a difference in the lives of Rutherford County citizens and for that we are extremely grateful.”

In-kind donors include Macaroni Grill, who will be providing the Celebrity “Buzz” Dinner before the Bee, Bonefish Grill, which donated an “Excursion” meal for the winner of the Bee, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department,The Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Magazine, Middle Tennessee Medical Center, WGNS, Shacklett’s Photography, and Linebaugh Library.