Love words? Lend your talents to a fundraiser March 9

YOUNGSTOWN

Exercise (17 points) your vocabulary (20 points), have fun (6 points) and help a charitable (17 points) cause by competing in Protestant Family Service’s Scrabble Tournament.

The March 9 fundraiser for the social- service agency is the brainstorm of Jacqueline Burley, director. A self-described “Scrabble junkie,” Burley said she, staff members and volunteers often play at lunchtime.

A fellow Scrabble enthusiast, Jeanne Cotters Monroe, PFS board member and volunteer and president of Church Women United, said ideas for fundraisers are discussed with many ideas suggested.

“I try to come up with creative fundraisers,” Burley said.

Scrabble was a big part of the Burley family game night. When her children were young, she saw it as a way to help them “learn to spell.”

Monroe said she views Scrabble as a way “to express (16 points) love of words, how to use strategy and share camaraderie.”

“Scrabble is exercise for the mind,” Burley said. “You learn new words and their meaning and increase your vocabulary.”

“It’s a social thing ... and friendly competition,” Monroe said.

Both women know a host of two-letter words like qu and ka that would expand anyone’s vocabulary. They have a Scrabble dictionary at the ready to prove a word’s validity.

The two hope the quest (14 points) to have fun spiced some friendly competition will attract participants to the fundraiser. Players must be 15 years or older. Burley said they plan on 16 tables with four players at each. “The highest scoring player will advance and play against other high scorers,” Burley said.

For the full story, read Saturday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.