Emerson KidSmart Celebrity Spelling Bee Spells S-U-C-C-E-S-S For Local Kids In Need.
The 2007 Emerson KidSmart Celebrity Spelling Bee, emceed by Joe Buck, raised more than $150,000 for the students served by KidSmart. The Silver Dollar City Team, which included Show Me St. Louis Host Courtney Cooper, Catherine Hanaway and Child Speller Molly Munsell won this year's Bee.
More than 500 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour featuring dinner by the bite provided by Michael Johnson Catering and drinks sponsored by Major Brands. The evening also included a live and silent auction. Guests were greeted by the Carr Lane Middle School Drum Line on the red carpet.
Joe Buck served as emcee for the night while celebrities, paired up with a champion child speller and a corporate sponsor, competed in the spelling bee. In addition to celebrity spellers, three local school principals served as judges. This year's celebrities were:
Joe Buck, Emcee
Emmy Award Winning Fox Sports Broadcaster
Ozzie Smith, Speller
Cardinal's Hall of Fame Baseball Player
Charlie Brennan, Speller
KMOX Radio and Donnybrook Host
Ralph Butler, Speller
Ralph Butler Band
Kevin Horrigan, Speller
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Columnist
Van Lorenz, Speller
106.5 The Arch Host
Patricia Miller, Speller
St. Louis Business Journal Editor
Karen Foss, Speller
Emmy Award Winning News Anchor
Shimmy Gray-Miller, Speller
St. Louis University Women's Basketball Coach
Courtney Cooper, Speller
Show Me St. Louis Host
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder
Additional sponsors of the event included AAA, American Direct Marketing, Crown Vision Center, National City, Purina, Silver Dollar City, Smurfit-Stone, AmerenUE and The Business Bank of St. Louis.
KidSmart was established in 2002 to help local kids in need succeed in school by providing them with free school supplies. Since 2002 KidSmart has distributed more than $5 million in school supplies and educational materials to more than 45,000 St. Louis area kids in need. There are 40,000 area students still in need of KidSmart's services.