Did you hear the buzz? It's adult spelling bee time

Hilton Head Island's second annual adult spelling bee might be the only one of its kind where it pays to misspell a word.

The bee, which benefits the Child Abuse Prevention Association of Beaufort County, takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. Admission is $10 and all proceeds go to benefit CAPA.

CAPA volunteer director and spelling bee organizer Katie Grindle says the contest, open to people

21 and older, pits teams of four against each other, and each group collectively decides how to spell words.

If teams encounter any difficult words on their way to the final, they can buy their way back into the competition until 20 minutes into the third round. Six word passes, or mulligans, cost $100.

"One year, teams that ran out of money tried singing to the judges to stay another round," Grindle said. "It's really just a big party for a great cause."

Last year, the Hilton Head benefit raised $12,000 for CAPA.

Grindle said CAPA has held the spelling bee fundraiser for about eight years in Beaufort, and added the Hilton Head round of competition last year. The Beaufort bee will be held May 2.

If you're interested in signing a team up for the Hilton Head spelling bee, the entry fee is $175.Prizes will be given for the most creative team and the best costume.

For more information, contact Janet Williams at 843-384-0852 or CAPA at 843-524-4350.