Muslim Spelling Bee Emerges As The Largest Community Based Spelling Bee Competition

(CHICAGO,IL- JUNE 24) In 2011, Chicago based entrepreneur Tausif Malik established a community based “Muslim Spelling Bee” with the sole idea of increasing Muslim Student participation at major spelling bee competitions. This social enterprise has now emerged as the second largest spelling bee & largest community based spelling bee competition.

Originally from India, Malik used his advertising, marketing, public relations and publishing experience to build the competition with help from community leaders and his personal contacts in Chicago.

“All other major minority groups in the US have their own spelling bees, but Muslims did not,” Malik said. “I didn't really understand why this was the case, so I decided to go ahead and start one. I was surprised and amazed, I never imagined this kind of response.”

Malik partnered with leading community based schools in 10 metropolitan regions to host the competitions. Unlike other spelling bees where 8-14 years students compete in single competition, the Muslim Spelling Bee utilizes a competition format  where children compete in their age group and the top 5 five spellers from each group are eligible to compete at the National Muslim Spelling Bee Finals.

The first edition of the Muslim Spelling Bee, which was held in 2012, saw 460 students participating from cities all over the nation and Canada. The competition has been growing steadily, rising to 600 in the 2013 competition.

“What we’ve created here is not just spelling bee, but a social enterprise,” explained Malik. “These local communities host spelling bees in schools and community centers, which engages them. People set up advertising stalls at these events, so they’re engaged. Overall, there are probably close to 10,000 people involved with these Muslim Spelling Bees in one way or another.”

For more information about the Muslim Spelling Bee competition go to www.MuslimSpellingBee.com