CARMEL, N.Y. — Putnam County businesses, organizations, and residents came together on May 14 to support CoveCare Center at its annual Team Spelling Bee, held at Centennial Golf Club in Carmel.
Proceeds raised by the event and its sponsors—including Nuvance Health (now joining Northwell), M&T Bank, Stacey Gibson, the Benefit Practice, Search for Change NFP, Hilb Group, Fidelis Care, Halston Media, and others—help support the many programs of CoveCare Center. The private nonprofit provides recovery-based treatment and preventive services for mental health, social/emotional, and substance-use issues.
CoveCare Center CEO Eric Toth kicked off the evening by introducing Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, who read the first round of words to the spirited crowd. Staff emcees Brandon Lillard (director of children's community-based programs) and Krista Zanfardino (vice president of programs) then took over to lead the 10 eager teams through nearly 70 words and eliminations before the remaining four teams entered the championship round.
The competition was fierce as the Brewster Rotary/Brewster Chamber of Commerce team, the Brewster Busy Bees, claimed first place for the second year in a row by correctly spelling “zymurgy,” the scientific study and application of fermentation processes. The Nuvance/Northwell team, the Nu-Bees, earned second place with the Hawaiian word “hoomalimali,” which means “to flatter or to attempt to secure one’s favor by flattery.” CoveCare Center’s Mental Health Clinic team, the Honey Makers, regained the coveted Most Enthusiastic Team award.
Other teams competing included the Patterson Rotary, Kathleen M. Valletta, Hudson Valley Credit Union, PCSB Bank/Foundation, Dawn DeCesare, the Putnam County Health Department, and Search for Change.
“The CoveCare Center Annual Spelling Bee brings community partners together for a night of fun and friendly competition,” Toth said. “We hosted an enthusiastic crowd spelling challenging words to support a local non-profit that supports the behavioral health needs of Putnam County and beyond."
Volunteers from the community and CoveCare Center staff partnered to make the evening of friendly competition and laughter a success.
For more information and event photos, visit covecarecenter.org.
About CoveCare Center
CoveCare Center is the only private nonprofit agency providing recovery-based mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services in Putnam County. The organization offers hope and healing to people of all ages through services including individual and group counseling, care coordination, family advocacy, parenting education, community outreach, and medication management. CoveCare Center is a member of Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), a nonprofit membership organization of behavioral health and disability service providers in the Hudson Valley.
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